The cold season is approaching, and many are beginning to prepare for it, buying cough lozenges, syrups and antibiotics in pharmacies. Proponents of the same popular methods of treatment are stocked with curative herbs and get saucepans for inhalation from the mezzanine. But it is easier and cheaper to buy a modern inhaler and, if the cold does not pass you by, to carry out the necessary procedures right at home - with comfort and benefit.
Such a device is able to quickly deliver any drug or a pair of herbal infusion even to the most distant parts of the respiratory system. And most importantly - it is great for the prevention of colds. So don’t be in a hurry to pack with pills and send grandma's saucepan back to the shelf. Today we will choose a more effective means - inhaler.
Content:
The best manufacturers of inhalers - which company to choose
Inhaler - a medical device designed for home treatment of diseases of the respiratory system. Compact evaporators are in great demand among consumers, so many medical equipment manufacturers are involved in their production.
But best of all this is obtained from foreign companies:
- B.Well;
- Omron;
- A & D;
- Little Doctor International;
- MED 2000.
You will find their most successful models in our ranking of the best inhalers. These are high-quality and reliable devices that will not fail. But will they suit your family? To answer this question, you need to deal with the main types and characteristics of modern inhalers.
The principle of operation and the device inhaler
Any home inhaler consists of several basic elements:
1. Cases with built-in capacity into which the solution is poured;
2. Flexible hose with damper;
3. Nozzles in the form of a mouthpiece, mask or nasal tubes.
A medicinal solution is poured into the tank of the inhaler, which the device should deliver to the destination: the trachea, bronchi, lungs. But the method of drug delivery will largely depend on the design of the device.
If it is an ordinary steam apparatus, the composition inside it is simply brought to a boil, and the resulting steam naturally rises up through the hose. In more complex models of inhalers, a compressor is installed in the chamber, creating an overpressure inside.
The drug is actually squeezed into the tube, and there it falls on the dispenser, which breaks the liquid into tiny droplets.
Types of inhalers
Steam (heat and humid)
These devices, according to the principle of action, differ little from the memorable saucepan, over which we were forced to breathe in childhood, covering our head with a towel. Only use them much more convenient.
A pair of herbal infusions or solutions of essential oils, climbing through an inhaler tube, perfectly softens the upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx. For the treatment of cough, rhinitis and other symptoms of colds, this is what is needed.
Steam inhalers are considered the most effective and fast-acting, but they can be used only if the temperature of the patient does not exceed + 37.5 °. The volume of the tank for drugs in these devices reaches 100 ml, which allows them to continuously work up to 10 minutes.
The devices themselves are moderately compact - their dimensions do not exceed 20-25 cm, and their weight is 500-700 grams. The output particle diameter is about 10 microns, but compared to more modern inhalers it is still a lot.
Pros:
- Compact size;
- Simplicity and ease of use;
- Effective in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
- Cost inexpensive.
Minuses:
- Do not use at elevated body temperature;
- Heating to +100 ° С imposes serious restrictions on the list of used drugs;
- It is undesirable to use for the treatment of children.
Nebulizers
Here, the therapeutic fluid does not evaporate, but is sprayed in the form of tiny particles, turning into a cloud of aerosol. Due to the absence of heat exposure, all the useful substances in the solution are stored and delivered without loss even to the most distant parts of the lungs.
Nebulizers are of three types, we list them as the efficiency increases:
1. Ultrasonic - relatively small and affordable devices, where the liquid is divided into droplets by vibrating plates.
2. Compression - blow out particles of the drug along with a powerful stream of air. They are considered universal, since they can safely fill in any preparations.
3. Mesh nebulizers - the best type of inhalers with a vibrating mesh membrane for today.
Solution droplets have to literally squeeze through its cells, decreasing in size. Meshes are considered the most effective and economical in terms of the consumption of medicines, and also differ in their compact dimensions.
In any case, the particle size of the fluid in nebulizers is very small - about 4-5 microns, which allows them to penetrate deep into the bronchi and lungs.
Pros:
- Maximum effectiveness of treatment;
- Safe even for children;
- There are no strict restrictions on the drugs used;
- On sale you can find battery models;
- Economical consumption of drugs.
Minuses:
- They are more expensive than steam;
- Some models require careful handling.
There are other types of inhalers (salt, glass), but they are not widely used: partly because of its lack of effectiveness and too narrow scope of application.
Such devices are more suitable for prevention than for treatment, so we will not dwell on them in more detail.
Inhaler selection options
The size of the sprayed particles
Each type of inhaler works in its own way, turning the medicinal solution into a cloud of tiny droplets.
It is their size that determines the effectiveness of the treatment of certain diseases:
1. For preventive rehabilitation of the oral cavity, treatment of pharyngitis, tonsillitis, allergic edema of the palate and the posterior larynx wall, particles with a diameter of 8-10 microns are sufficient.
2. Before the nasopharynx and the inner surface of the larynx droplets can reach no larger than 5-8 microns. This will help to cope with a sore throat, reduce swelling and inflammation in case of sore throat or a viral infection.
3. To get to the trachea and bronchi, removing inflammation or spasm, the particles of drug mist must be even smaller (3-5 microns).
4. For the treatment of bronchiolitis affecting the respiratory channels, a fine dispersion with particles no larger than 1-3 microns is needed.
5. Only the smallest droplets, 0.5-2 microns in diameter, can penetrate the pulmonary alveoli.
Each type of inhaler, moreover - each model can have its own spray rate. But remember that you are buying a non-disposable device, so try to find a device that gives the smallest possible particle size.
Alternatively, you can use additional attachments that can increase the "delivery distance" of the drug.
Fog feed method
Currently, there are 3 types of drugs in the respiratory tract:
1. Continuous - the aerosol comes from the inhaler without stopping during the whole session (until the tank is empty or the device is disconnected from the mains). This method leads to cost overruns and does not allow to determine the exact dosage of the drug.
2. Manual adjustment - to fog entered the nozzle, you need to press a special button on the device. As a result, the medicine is consumed sparingly, but sooner or later the button itself can fail.
3. Automatic - the most convenient and economical flow, in which the intake of the drug occurs on the inhale and stops on the exhale due to the installed valves. Such a system is ideal for treating children and minimizes the consumption of drugs.
Volume of the tank
The dimensions of this tank are tied to the dimensions of the inhaler and the method of formation of drug mist:
1. Steam models usually come with a capacity of about 50-100 ml;
2. Tanks in compressor units have a volume of 100-150 ml;
3. Ultrasonic nebulizers contain 50-70 ml of solution;
4. Membrane meshes are the smallest - you can pour only 10-15 ml of the drug into them.
When choosing a tank volume, remember that it should be enough for at least one procedure, so the spraying rate here also plays a role.
If the device does not provide for the regulation of the supply of medication or produces too large particles of mist, you will have to take an inhaler with a good supply of volume. At the same time, a large reservoir will make the device more cumbersome and heavy, which will cause a lot of difficulties during use and transportation.
Battery
All modern inhalers work from a household network of 220 V, but the presence of a battery will allow you to freely use the device, for example, on the road. Unfortunately, the charge of the built-in battery will not be long enough - at best, you will have 30-40 minutes to carry out several procedures.
Noise level
This indicator is considered insignificant, but in the case of small children, the use of too “loud” apparatus can seriously complicate the procedure.
Extraneous noise will distract or even irritate the baby, and in fact to make him breathe through the inhaler for several minutes and so difficult. If you plan to use the device including for the treatment of a child, look for the most silent option.
1. Steam inhalers are considered relatively quiet and usually give no more than 30 dB.
2. Ultrasonic and compressor devices work a little louder, reaching 45 dB.
3. Membrane nebulizers can be called almost silent: they make barely audible sounds at the level of 15-20 dB.
Contraindications
With some symptoms and certain diseases, the use of inhalers is not only ineffective, but also dangerous.
Their use will have to be abandoned in the following cases:
1. Increased blood pressure or frequent nosebleeds;
2. Cavernous tuberculosis;
3. Heart or respiratory failure III degree;
4. Pre-infarction and post-infarction conditions;
5. At body temperature above 37.5 ° C.
Which inhaler to choose
1. If you need an inexpensive and effective inhaler "just in case": for the treatment of cough, runny nose and prophylaxis during the cold season - the usual steam device is enough. Just look for a model with a maximum tank capacity (at least 100 ml), because the solution will evaporate quickly, and part of it will be wasted.
2. For people with poor health, as well as allergies, it is better to always have an inhaler on hand. So do not spare the money and buy a compact mesh nebulizer with battery and automatic solution supply.
3. When every overcooling at best ends with bronchitis, and a weak immunity easily gives up under the onslaught of ARVI, you should buy a compressor or ultrasonic inhaler. It is desirable that he could break the drug liquid to the size of 3-5 microns and have at least a manual feed adjustment.
4. For family use, you need a universal model - a compressor nebulizer that can work with any kind of drugs, decoctions and oils. Make sure that the kit has special nozzles for children and at least some kind of feed control system.
How much does an inhaler cost?
1. The cost of ultrasound models ranges from 2-5 thousand.
2. Compressor nebulizers are quite expensive. Their cost reaches 10-11 thousand rubles.
3. Approximately in the same price category (from 3 to 12 thousand) there were also portable mesh inhalers.
4. Steam inhaler can be purchased at prices ranging from 200-300 to 2000 rubles.
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