Home nebulizer therapy works by converting a liquid dose of medication into a mist, which the patient inhales. Doctors recommend home nebulizer therapy for a number of health concerns, but most commonly for lung diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. There are two basic types of nebulizers on the market right now:
- Compressed air is used to transform medication into a mist in the jet nebulizer.
- The ultrasonic nebulizer uses ultrasonic vibrations to achieve the same result.
The optimal nebulizer for a specific medication formulation may be specified on the label. In addition, we have mentioned how to use a nebulizer at home.
Step by step Guide to using nebulizer at home
Once you have found the best nebulizer machine that suits your needs, you need to make sure that you are using it properly. So, here is a step to step guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Start with a simple step, i.e., clean your hands properly.
Step 2: Now, open the cup of the nebulizer at the top and put the prescribed medicine in it.
Step 3: Usually, the doctor prescribes respiratory medications in pre-measured doses for a nebulizer treatment. But if you don’t have a pre-measured quantity of the dose for your medication, you need to check the exact amount of dose you need to take at one time.
Step 4: After placing the medication in the cup, make sure that the cover of the portable nebulizer machine is closed tightly to avoid any type of spillage. Then, make sure the air compressor of the machine is plugged in the electrical outlet if it is not a battery-operated machine.
Now, fix the mouthpiece to the top of the cup of the nebulizer machine.
After this, attach one end of the oxygen tubing to the cup of the machine. It should go at the bottom of the cup. The other end of the oxygen tubing is supposed to be connected to an air compressor you plugged in the previous step. After you have attached everything right, you are ready to turn on the compressor and start using a nebulizer.
Place the mouthpiece on your mouth and grip the piece above the tongue. Keep your lips sealed tightly around the mouthpiece. Tip: if your hand held nebulizer does not have a mouthpiece, use an aerosol mask for old people or kids.
Now, start inhaling slowly and deeply through your mouth. You can exhale from your nose or mouth. Deep breaths ensure that the medication is reaching your lungs.
Keep inhaling and exhaling the medication until the entire mist has finished. It will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
After you are done, turn off the nebulizer machine. Clean the cup and the mouthpiece in warm soapy water. Remember, it is very important to disinfect the nebulizer after every use. Soak all the parts of the machine in soap water for one hour, except the tubing.
This guide will help you to use different types of nebulizers at home and get all the benefits of the therapy.