Humans have a lot of organs and cells that work in systems. The human body system all works simultaneously to allow humans to live and survive. In the world of medicine, there can be many things that could go wrong with any of these systems. The body never lies when something is wrong with it. Symptoms or signs exhibited will give clues on what is going on with the human body. One of the body systems that most people take for granted is the breathing system.
The breathing system consists of airways, lungs and the blood vessels. This system is more than just enabling a person to breathe in air. The breathing system also works to eliminate waste products such as carbon dioxide to maintain balance inside the blood system. There are a number of diseases affecting the breathing system making a person out of breath or breathing difficulty. One thing for sure, treatments such as nebulizers can help improve this condition. The question now is, do home nebulizers work?
Nebulizer is a machine that changes medication from liquid to mist. The mist forms enables a person to inhale the medication effectively. There can be many health concerns leading to a person to use nebulizer such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nebulizer only acts as medium meaning when a person is receiving nebulizer therapy, it all comes down to what medication is used inside the nebulizer.
Some may wonder if home nebulizers work the same as the nebulizer they get in hospitals or clinics. Well, yes it does. Home nebulizers are easy to be used as there is no need for a person to coordinate their breathing with the machine such as inhalers. This makes home nebulizers more suitable for those having difficulty to use inhalers such as children and elderly. Home nebulizers also are convenient for those needing to use them on a regular basis. Thus, home nebulizers are an effective way of delivering medication as it delivers medication directly to the lungs and airways without compromising the medicine’s effectiveness.
However, lungs are only able to absorb only 10 to 15% of the medication. This is why it is important to use home nebulizers properly in order to receive the adequate medication they should be receiving as prescribed by doctors. Home nebulizers only need a smaller dose of medication to work which makes nebulizer therapy the best way to treat condition quickly compared to using pills or shots that is a hassle to young children and elderly. Since it also used small doses, using nebulizer means less risk for unwanted side effects compared to other forms of therapy. Typically, using a home nebulizer is around 5 to 20 minutes.
The decision to use an inhaler or nebulizer lies on the aim of the breathing therapy itself. Nebulizer may be bulky and hard to carry around as compared to inhaler and it is relatively pricey. Using home nebulizer also usually takes more time compared to inhalers but most people do prefer to use nebulizer as it gives effect faster than inhaler and easier to use as breathing normally is enough for medication to be delivered to the airways and lungs.
It can be concluded that home nebulizers do work. In fact, it is more convenient and easier to use. The only downside is the price of a home nebulizer which may be an issue to some people. It is important to discuss with healthcare providers before buying a home nebulizer as there can be many models and ways the home nebulizer works which may affect the way the prescribed medications works. If you are unsure of how to use a home nebulizer, ask a healthcare provider on how to use it correctly. This not only helps you to understand the right way to use it but also makes sure the medication can work effectively. Do note that medications designed for nebulizer are usually made for single-use meaning that once it is opened, the unused contents should be disposed of.
Beside learning how to use home nebulizers correctly, you should also know how to properly clean it after using it. Wash nebulizers with clean soapy water and rinse it before being left to dry. It should be washed once a day but should be washed right after use if it is visibly dirty or after coughing lots of phlegm. The disposable part of the nebuliser should be changed regularly and it is better to have a spare one just in case any parts break or are damaged. Parts that should be regularly replaced should be stated on manufacturer’s instructions or as advised by healthcare professionals. The proper way of cleaning and storing home nebulizers can be found with the manual book or leaflet that comes along with the machine. Make sure to always unplug the machine before taking it to the cleaning session.
It is important to pay attention and read instructions as given by the manufacturer of the home nebulizer. Home nebulizer is built differently according to manufacturer standards. Hence, always read the book or leaflet that comes along with the machines so that you will know how to properly use, disinfect and store the nebulizer. If you are still unsure of using home nebulizers by yourself, ask a doctor or nurse to watch you on how you use it.
