In the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract and ENT organs, the benefits of inhalation are indisputable. The advantage of this type of treatment is that the drug is delivered directly to the inflammation site in an unchanged form. It immediately starts to produce an effect. Inhalation eliminates the need to take the drug orally, therefore, the therapeutic dose of the drug is reduced many times. It reduces the risk of allergic reactions and drug overdose.
Inhalation can be done both in the physiotherapy department of an outpatient clinic, hospital and at home. Inhalers are used for this purpose. An inhaler is a device that is designed to prevent or treat diseases of the respiratory system and ENT organs.
4 types of inhalers
To choose an inhaler that would be most appropriate for your case, you should know what types of inhalers exist and what they are intended for. Currently, the 4 most common types of inhalers are the most common:
- steam inhalers;
- ultrasonic inhalers,
- compressor inhalers;
- electronic mesh inhalers.
Description of the first 3 types
Ultrasonic, compressor and electronic mesh inhalers are combined into one group and are often called – nebulizers (from the Latin nebula – “fog, cloud”). Inhalers of this type form aerosols – the smallest particles of drugs. Inhalation particles enter the respiratory system, where they have a therapeutic effect on the affected organs. Different inhalers range of sizes of the particles formed which depends directly on the type of device. Particle size for inhalation is especially important since it depends on which area of the respiratory system or ENT organs they fall into and where they settle.
An ultrasonic inhaler develops so high performance for 10-15 minutes of work that it can enter into the airways the volume of the medicinal solution at least 15-30 ml. For inhalations of this type, medicinal herbs decoctions, alkaline solutions can be used. The small weight and size of the device bring popularity to this type. However, some models have additional masks and nozzles that allow inhalation even in a state of sleep.
Compressor inhalers have similar performance with ultrasonic inhalers. But at the same time they have large dimensions and mass, and also produce quite strong noise during operation. The principle of operation of the compressor inhaler is that the compressor creates a powerful airflow and passes it through a small opening in the nebulizer chamber containing the drug solution. Due to this, an aerosol cloud is formed. The absolute advantage of compressor inhalers can be attributed to the fact that only this type of inhaler can disperse almost all medicinal substances that are used for inhalation.
Recently, new types of devices – electronic mesh inhalers (with mesh technology) have become increasingly popular. They are based on the method of low-frequency spraying of the drug substance. Such inhalers, unlike traditional ultrasound, allow using a wider range of drugs, such as:
- antibiotics;
- mucolytics;
- hormonal drugs.
There is also the possibility of using oil-containing solutions, but with a certain level of viscosity.
Steam Inhalers
The simplest type of inhalation device at home is a steam inhaler. Its action is based on the evaporation of the drug, which is inhaled by the patient.
This type of inhaler has its drawbacks. The fact is that the concentration of the drug in the pair does not reach the desired therapeutic dose. Many nutrients are destroyed under the action of the temperature at which vapor is formed.
Another disadvantage is the difficulty in using a steam inhaler in children. Kids rarely agree to breathe hot air, and it also brings a lot of discomfort to adults. Therefore, inhalers-nebulizers were developed for maximum efficiency and ease of use. As mentioned above, the group of nebulizers includes several types of inhalers: ultrasonic, compressor and electronic mesh.
An ultrasonic inhaler is a device that allows you to spray drugs in the form of a small aerosol. When inhaled, it penetrates into the most inaccessible areas of the respiratory tract. The principle of ultrasonic inhaler operation is based on the vibrating of a special emitter plate. With the help of vibration, the liquid is divided into tiny particles, the size of which reaches 5 microns. This particle size allows them to penetrate even into the small bronchi, effectively influencing the inflammatory process.