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Related TopicsA metered-dose inhaler is a small, hand-held device filled with medicine to treat breathing problems. It helps deliver a certain amount of medicine through your mouth and into your lungs. It is commonly used to treat breathing difficulties related to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory problems. Path to well beingEach inhaler consists of a small canister of medicine connected to a mouthpiece. The canister is pressurized. As you press down on the canister, it releases a mist of medicine. You breathe that mist into your lungs. It’s important to use your inhaler correctly. Otherwise, your airways will not receive the right amount of medicine. Read and follow all instructions that come with your inhaler. Here are the steps to correctly use your inhaler:
Some inhalers (such as steroid inhalers) also recommend rinsing your mouth out with water and gargling with water (spit out the water) after use. These instructions are for a metered-dose inhaler only. Inhaled dry-powder inhalers are used differently. To use a dry powder inhaler, close your mouth tightly around the mouthpiece and breathe in quickly. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about how to take your inhaler. Things to considerIt’s important to keep track of how much medicine you’ve used so you can replace your inhaler before you run out of medicine. Many inhalers include a “counter” on the back that keeps track of how much medicine is left in the device. If your inhaler does not, you can use the following method to figure out when you’ll need to get a refill:
Questions for your doctor
Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. What actions does the nurse include in teaching a patient to use an inhaler with a spacer select all that apply?Breathe in Slowly. Put the spacer between your teeth and close your lips tightly around it.. Keep your chin up.. Start breathing in slowly through your mouth.. Spray one puff into the spacer by pressing down on the inhaler.. Keep breathing in slowly. Breathe as deeply as you can.. When teaching the patient how do you breathe during a nebulizer treatment the nurse should provide which instruction?Ask patient to breathe in deeply and slowly for about 5 seconds and to then hold breath at the end of inspiration for about 10 seconds.
Which position will the nurse use when caring for a patient who is experiencing an asthma?During an asthma attack, the patient should sit down, preferably in a semi-fowler position to help with breathing (Wilson, 2015). The patient should try to relax as much as possible and breathe from their diaphragm.
Which instruction will the nurse include when teaching a patient how do you do huff coughing?The Huff Coughing Technique:. Sit up straight with chin tilted slightly up and mouth open.. Take a slow deep breath to fill lungs about three quarters full.. Hold breath for two or three seconds.. Exhale forcefully, but slowly, in a continuous exhalation to move mucus from the smaller to the larger airways.. |