Asthma and Asthma Nebulizers
Asthma Nebulizers (Breathing Machine)
An asthma nebulizer, also known as a breathing machine, changes asthma medication from a liquid to a mist, so that it can be more easily inhaled into the lungs. Home nebulizer therapy is particularly effective in delivering asthma medications to infants and small children and to anyone who is unable to use asthma inhalers with spacers.A nebulizer is an electronic device that transforms asthma medicine into a very fine mist that will penetrate deeply into your lungs.
You place the liquid asthma medicine into a cup that attaches to an air compressor. When you turn the compressor on, it changes the liquid into a mist. You then breathe this mist through a mouthpiece into your lungs. Nebulizers with masks can be used to give asthma medicines such as Pulmicort Respules to children who are too young to use a metered dose inhaler properly.
To obtain an asthma nebulizer, you need a prescription from your physician. Home nebulizers vary in cost (approximately $200-250) and are usually covered under the durable medical equipment portion of health insurance policies. However, most insurance companies will require you to work with a specified durable medical equipment supplier. Check with your insurance company before purchasing or renting to ensure it will be covered. Your health care provider should be able to assist you with these arrangements.
Asthma: Hand-Held Nebulizer Treatments
The medications used in nebulizers help your child by loosening the mucus in the lungs so it can be coughed out more easily, and by relaxing the airway muscles so that more air can move in and out of the lungs. Breathing the medication straight into the lungs works better and faster than taking the medication by mouth. Nebulizer treatments take about 15 to 20 minutes to give the medication.
EPINEPHRINE HAND NEBULIZER IN ASTHMA—Technique of Use, Clinical Aspects
It behooves the physician seeking relief for asthmatic patients not to be casual about the epinephrine hand nebulizer and the manner in which it is used. Patients who claim to get no relief from the nebulizer should be asked to demonstrate their technique.
If the nebulizer produces a hardly visible mist, it should be discarded. For many patients, the goal in spraying by hand must be the production of more or less continuous and voluminous aerosol, regardless of the phase of respiration, in order to effect relief
