Once you’ve been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) your doctor may prescribe for you to take breathing treatments at home. So what is a breathing treatment and how do you take one? When you have inflammation of your skin that causes it to become dry, red, and itchy, you generally apply a topical lotion directly on the irritated skin. When the air passages inside your lungs are inflamed and likewise irritated, the only way to apply a topical is by inhaling it. It was for this reason that breathing treatments (and inhalers) were invented. Check out my related post "How to Properly Use an Inhaler." There are essentially four things required in order to take a breathing treatment:** 1. Nebulizer**: A small hand-held device equipped with a cup for medicine and a mouthpiece. When connected to an air compressor the nebulizer turns the solution to a fine, white mist that can be easily inhaled. 2. Air compressor**:** This is a small device that turns energy into a flow of air. 3. Oxygen tubing**:** This is used to connect the air compressor to the nebulizer. 4. Medicine**:** The solution form of the medicine is usually premixed with 3cc of normal saline (water) and stored in a plastic, easy-to-open amp. Once opened, the solution is poured into the nebulizer cup. The purpose of a breathing treatment is to turn this solution into a mist. In order to get these four things you will need a prescription from your doctor. A nebulizer and air compressor are usually purchased from a home health care company. In most cases, the company will send a representative to your home with the equipment, and teach you how to use it. Later on, as you need replacement supplies, all you have to do is talk to this representative. Many medicines can be inhaled by using a nebulizer. Here are the most common ones that are used for COPD:
Now, how do you take a breathing treatment? It’s not hard, although, how to do it should be explained to you by either a respiratory therapist, nurse, doctor, or the home care representative who brings you the equipment. The best technique is described at nationaljewish.org:
As far as breathing is concerned during the treatment, many respiratory therapists simply recommend that you breathe normal. This, I find, is easier to explain and understand, and also creates the smooth flow needed for good deposition of medicine to the airway. However, as a compromise, some respiratory therapists recommend breathing normal, while occasionally taking a slow, deep breath with a breath hold. Whichever breathing method you decide to use is the best breathing method. That pretty much covers everything you need to know about breathing treatments. Here are some videos that show proper nebulizer technique:
We hope this helps you get the most out of your inhaled medicine. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. A nebulizer is a special device that warms or otherwise changes a liquid solution into a fine mist that’s easy to inhale. Some people call nebulizers breathing machines. Nebulizers are useful in treating certain respiratory conditions. Doctors often use them for babies. They allow infants to take in medication while breathing as they normally would. When a baby breathes in the mist from a nebulizer, the medicine can go deep into their lungs where it can work to make breathing easier. Doctors prescribe nebulized medications, but you can learn how to give these medications to your baby at home if needed. Doctors may prescribe nebulizers for chronic conditions in infants. Asthma, for example, is a condition that causes an immune response that irritates the airways. Other conditions a doctor may prescribe a nebulizer for include:
Two different power options exist for nebulizers:
Doctors may prescribe different medications that a nebulizer can deliver. Examples of these medications include:
While some of the elements of using a nebulizer depend on the specific type, here’s a general example of the nebulizer process:
Babies can be squirmy, which makes administering nebulizer treatments a challenge. Here are some tips that can help:
It’s very important you clean the nebulizer after every time you use it. Bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. If the nebulizer isn’t cleaned, these germs can build up. When you use an unclean nebulizer on your baby, the bacteria and fungi can be delivered directly to your baby’s lungs. If you don’t have special instructions that came with the nebulizer regarding cleaning, here are general guidelines:
Some of the pros and cons for nebulizer treatments include: Nebulizers are available for purchase from most major retailers and at drugstores. Many insurance companies will often cover a portion or all of the costs of nebulizers, as they’re considered durable medical equipment with a doctor’s prescription. However, it’s best to talk to your insurance company before purchasing a nebulizer to ensure insurance will cover the costs. Here are some examples of nebulizers you can buy online. Nebulizers are a safe and effective way to deliver medications to an infant. Always contact your child’s doctor if for any reason your child appears to have more difficulty breathing after a breathing treatment. Some infants can have the opposite expected reaction following a treatment. Reviewing the possible side effects with your child’s doctor can help you identify these symptoms more quickly. Last medically reviewed on September 26, 2018 |