All You Need To Know About A Nebuliser!

With an increase in the number of people suffering from different diseases affecting the lungs, nebulisers have gained more popularity due to their benefits. Nebulisers are extremely helpful devices for people suffering from different conditions of the lungs, e.g. infections of the lungs, COPD, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia etc. While most people are familiar with the concept of an inhaler, nebulisers are slowly catching on. Nebulisers must be used as prescribed by a doctor. These devices can also help to deliver salt water mist (medical grade) to airways in order to loosen the mucous plugs and ease expectoration( coughing out mucous). In this article, we discuss what a nebulizer is, what it does and why you should consider one.

What is a Nebuliser?

A nebuliser is a small portable device that runs electronically, turning liquid medication into a mist. The patient then needs to breathe in the aerosol thus created through a mouthpiece. The mist, when inhaled, travels directly to the lungs, ensuring better absorption of the medication and a more effective outcome of your ongoing treatment. 

The nebuliser has four major parts:

• The length of air tubing
• The nebuliser machine (air compressor)
• A mask or mouthpiece (can come in a set of two; one for adults and one for children).
• A tiny plastic chamber (where you need to put the prescribed liquid medication).

The nebuliser machine functions by forcing air through the nebuliser chamber, wherein the liquid medication needs to be poured. This forced air turns the medicine into a mist that comes out through the mouthpiece or the mask by making its way through the connected tube. The medication should be inhaled for about 10-15 minutes or until the medication has evaporated completely. This instruction will be given to you by your doctor.

What is it Used for?

A nebuliser can be recommended to you by your doctor in case your respiratory condition is of severe nature. The machine helps to clear the airways effectively and fast because the liquid medication directly reaches the lungs and acts better. A nebuliser is helpful in the following ways:

• Emergency: If you are unable to breathe and the doctor thinks that a higher dose of medication is needed to stabilise your condition, the hospital staff or paramedic will give you the reliever medication with a nebulizer.
• At home: In case your infection is severe and you are struggling to breathe, an inhaler might not be as effective. An inhaler is only able to administer small doses at a time and often the mist escapes from the sides of the mouth. In a situation like this, a nebulizer can help manage your breathing because it is able to provide you with higher doses of medication over a longer period of time.
• If you can’t use an inhaler: If you have restricted hand mobility, an inhaler can be difficult for you to use. A nebuliser can be a better choice since someone else can assist you in setting up the nebuliser with the medication. And once the mouthpiece or mask is worn, no additional hand movement is necessary and you can breathe in your medication in a relaxed manner. A nebuliser is easy to use on children and infants but under medical supervision.

Cleaning the non disposable nebuliser masks and nebuliser as per company guidelines is very important in long term usage as colonization of bacteria in the nebulisers are very common.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Types of Nebulisers in the Market

The two most common types of nebulisers .available on the market are:

• Ultrasonic nebulisers: These are expensive and used mostly within the hospital circuit. Such machines use high-frequency (sound) vibrations to make the mist.
• Jet nebulisers: These are mostly used at homes. Such devices use compressed gas to turn liquid medicine into a fine mist.

If you have a disposable nebulizer, discard it after one time use. If you have a reusable nebulizer, clean it after each use and try to remove the moisture as much as possible.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Why Should You Know About the PharmEasy Nebuliser

While there are many brands selling nebulisers in the market, the PharmEasy Nebuliser (PEN-002) can also be a good choice for you if you are on the lookout for affordable, safe and accurate medical devices. The PharmEasy Nebuliser has been designed with the latest RespiRight technology that atomises liquid medication into five types of particles. This ensures that the medication not only reaches the lungs effectively, minimising wastage but travels quickly, within minutes!

The device is also easy to handle, easy to clean and comes with a child and paediatric mask. The PharmEasy Nebuliser has received FDA approval and is known for its ability to help people with respiratory conditions such as COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic cough and many others. If you have someone in your family who suffers from chronic respiratory trouble, you can speak to a doctor and consider investing in the PharmEasy Nebuliser. The device is affordable, convenient to use and suitable for people of all ages.

Conclusion

For the safety and well-being of your loved ones who suffer from respiratory conditions, talk to your doctor about having a nebuliser in the house and the medicines that can be used with it. At home- nebulisers can come to your aid if the problem worsens or requires frequent nebulisation. Breathing difficulty should not be ignored. Always consult a doctor for the diagnosis of the condition and follow the treatment prescribed. 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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