Currently, there are many ways to treat various diseases, including, for example, and all kinds of lung ailments. One of them is the inhalation method, in other words - inhalation therapy. What are its specifics, and how to properly treat with inhalation?
What is inhalation?
The word "inhalation" came to our speech from the Latin language, in translation from which it means "inhale". This translation very accurately reflects the essence of the whole procedure. It consists in inhaling medicinal substances with the help of special devices (both for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes). However, you need to make a reservation right away: inhalation therapy can be carried out not only through devices, but also in a natural, natural way - by inhaling, for example, sea air.
When inhaled through devices, medicinal substances that enter the body are absorbed faster and better than if it happened in any other way. This type of therapy is also considered the safest for all categories of the population. However, we will come back to this issue later, but for now it is worth discussing the types of inhalation therapy - they are also many.
Types of inhalation
There are only five types of inhalation. These are steam - the most common inhalations, as well as dry, heat, moisture, aerosol and oil. We will tell you a little more about each of these types.
Steam inhalation
This type of inhalation is considered the most common. Many have been familiar with it since childhood, because it is the easiest to use. Special devices are not necessary for him, you can breathe in this way not only with the help of inhalers, but also with folk methods - for example, over potatoes or over a teapot. The bottom line is to breathe in hot steam, in which, if the procedure occurs with the help of the device, special medicines are also added. Steam warms up our nasal passages, throat, trachea - in general, the organs of the respiratory system, diluting sputum in them. This type of inhalation helps well with all kinds of colds such as rhinitis, pharyngitis and the like.
Medicines are not necessary for steam inhalations, but it is still possible and even recommended to add something to the steam: eucalyptus leaves, hops, chamomile, St. John's wort. Some add soda, but then it is important that the steam is not too hot - otherwise it will leave a burn.
Dry inhalation
Dry inhalation is also a type of inhalation therapy. This is the inhalation of drugs in powder form through special nebulizers. It is this type of inhalation that is used, including with bronchial asthma.
Wet inhalation
This type of inhalation is mainly done not at home, but in the clinic, because a compressor is needed to carry it out - this is inhaling moist air with a temperature of about forty degrees. However, there are special portable devices for inhalation therapy, with their help it is possible to carry out this procedure on your own. Wet inhalations are usually done with a simple mineral water and are aimed at eliminating sputum.
Aerosol inhalation
The methods of inhalation therapy include aerosol inhalation. This is a spray of medication in the form of an aerosol using a nebulizer or a special spray can. A similar method allows the particles of the drug substance to penetrate as deep as possible to the more "distant" respiratory organs.
Oil inhalation
To carry out the procedure of this kind of inhaler is required. Hot vegetable oil is poured into it, which is then sent to the damaged respiratory organs of the patient. It relieves inflammation and, forming a protective film on the mucosa, prevents its irritation. An important point: oil cannot interact with dust, such a synthesis will only aggravate the situation. Therefore, it is worth considering this to those people who work in very polluted rooms.
Indications and contraindications for inhalation therapy
Any treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Each procedure has its own indications and contraindications. Inhalation therapy is no exception. About all cases when the procedure is allowed or prohibited, it is necessary to know to everyone who at least once thought about its implementation. Let's start to study these things, perhaps with contraindications.
First and foremost: such therapy should in no case be carried out at elevated temperatures. Such a mark is considered to be 37.5 - and higher. In this case, it does not matter which type of inhalation and in what way the patient wants to use it. Any type of inhalation therapy is also prohibited with:
- myocardial infarction and various heart diseases;
- with bleeding from the nose;
- pulmonary insufficiency and bleeding;
- a stroke;
- allergies.
- steam inhalation is not possible with pleurisy;
- oil should not be done with an allergy to oils, hypertension of the second and third stages, atherosclerosis (in the latter case, a dry method of inhalation therapy is also prohibited);
- with weak vessels;
- warm-wet inhalation should not be done in the presence of arrhythmia or heart failure, as well as in the event of a stroke or heart attack (and since then less than eight months have passed);
- finally, the aerosol form of inhalation is not allowed for people with heart problems, pulmonary insufficiency or suffering from a hypertensive crisis.
As you can see, there are enough contraindications. However, the indications for inhalation therapy are still not an example anymore:
- All viral colds (such as acute respiratory viral infections, flu, rhinitis and the like, including their complications).
- Bronchitis (both acute and chronic).
- Pneumonia.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Fungus of the respiratory tract.
- HIV infection.
- Also, inhalation therapy is indicated for the prevention of postoperative conditions.
And this is not all situations when inhalation will be useful to the body!
Features of the procedure
The goal of inhalation therapy is the effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory system. It has a positive result for several reasons. So, with the help of inhalations, swelling and inflammation are removed in a similar way, sputum and mucus go away. In case of cough, cramps go away, and the mucous membrane is moisturized without fail - regardless of which disease is being eliminated. In addition, inhalation is a local therapy; some call them "grandmother's remedy." Such features of inhalation therapy can successfully apply it to treat the respiratory system in both home and hospital conditions for many years.
Rules of procedure
There are special rules for carrying out inhalation therapy - regardless of which methods or methods and methods of inhalation will be carried out. These rules must be strictly observed in order to get the most effective result.
It is also possible that the attending physician will have additional requirements for the procedure. In this case, of course, it is necessary to fully comply with its requirements.
So, the first and most important requirement is the implementation of inhalation therapy no earlier than one and a half, or even two hours after eating. In this case, after the procedure itself, neither eat nor drink for another hour. Also during this period you should refrain from smoking, singing and going out into the cold air.
Another rule that should also be followed is the selection of comfortable clothes and a comfortable pose. During the procedure, nothing should interfere and constrain - no movement, no throat, no arms, no chest. Sitting should also be comfortable.
As a rule, the standard course of treatment should be at least five days - and preferably all ten. Then the effect will be maximum. If the patient is an adult, he needs to do two or three procedures a day, if this is a child, one is enough for him. Inhalation therapy in children is carried out for three to four minutes. Adults should spend it a little longer - five to seven. If treatment is carried out with the goal of eliminating rhinitis or any other disease of the nose and / or paranasal sinuses (no matter what method of inhalation therapy is used), you need to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. If a sore throat and / or cough is treated, then everything happens exactly the opposite. By the way, this is logical, but nevertheless it should be clarified: any inhalation is carried out either through the nose or through the mouth - depending on which disease needs to be eliminated. Inhalations and exhalations should be light, without tension. Inhalation is a simple procedure, but it requires utmost care and maximum concentration, and therefore should not be distracted by any extraneous things, including conversations.
Inhalation methods
There are several ways to carry out this procedure. We will not recall here about folk methods such as potatoes, a teapot and everything else, we will talk exclusively about devices for inhalation therapy. This is, firstly, a compressor - used in a hospital setting. Secondly, a nebulizer; In addition, special aerosols and inhalers, as well as a ventilator. Also, some consider incense smoking as a method of inhalation therapy.
The nebulizer is the most popular device, and therefore we will consider it in a little more detail.
Nebulizer
What is a nebulizer? What is so special about him that sets him apart from a regular inhaler?
The word "nebulizer" has roots in Latin and is translated from it as "cloud" into our language. This is the whole point of the nebulizer device - it is an inhalation device, which the medicine in liquid form converts into a cloud. This is the same inhaler, but with one single difference - it has a narrower effect, that is, it allows the medicine to get exactly to the area that is necessary then, as the spray spectrum of the usual inhaler is wider. Nevertheless, by and large, the nebulizer is not much different from the inhaler (which is translated from Latin as “inhale”), and therefore many manufacturers and sellers even write on the packages / labels that this product is an “inhaler / nebulizer”. Only a steam inhaler cannot be attributed to nebulizers, everyone else has the right to be called at least that way, at least that way.
There are static nebulizers, they are located in hospitals, but, in addition, there are portable devices for inhalation therapy. Asthmatics use these, because it is the nebulizer that helps them out when attacks begin. Thus, this device is used for inhalation therapy of bronchial asthma, as well as for the treatment of respiratory viral diseases and cystic fibrosis.
There are two ways to spray medicine from a nebulizer to a patient - either through a mask or through a breathing tube. Most often the latter is used.
With inhalation therapy, a nebulizer has its own specific requirements for how this procedure should occur. They are as follows:
- The procedure is done only sitting, you can not lean forward.
- Before her, you can not drink expectorant drugs.
- It is necessary to ensure that the medicine does not get into the eyes.
- Do not carry out the procedure for more than fifteen minutes.
- The mask (if it is used) should fit snugly to the face.
- Dissolve the medicine only in saline.
- Before exhaling, hold your breath for a couple of seconds.
- At the end of the procedure, the device chamber must be thoroughly washed in clean water and dried.
Inhalation for various diseases
As has been repeatedly mentioned, the spectrum of action of inhalation drugs and the devices for inhalation themselves is very wide, you can use them to eliminate a wide variety of diseases of the respiratory system. Below we will talk about the features of treatment for some ailments.
Asthma Inhalation
For those who are not in the know, let’s explain: asthma - or bronchial asthma - is such a serious disease in which the bronchi are in the stage of chronic inflammation. And any contact with allergic substances or the slightest stressful situation can cause an asthma attack. If it is not immediately stopped, it can even lead to the death of the patient. That is why every person suffering from this disease, it is so important to have some kind of pocket inhaler with you. We have already found out above that with asthma you can use a nebulizer. But what other types of inhalers are acceptable for asthma inhalation therapy? The first is the spacer. This device is equipped with special valves that allow you to regulate the flow of drugs into the patient's body - this only happens when you inhale. Such a device is very convenient for treating small children, but its compactness leaves much to be desired: it is quite voluminous. Therefore, the spacer is not always convenient to carry.
Another type is an aerosol with a dispenser, due to which the medicine enters the body in certain doses. Its advantages are reliability and a relatively low price. There are also metered-dose powder inhalers that spray the powder, not the liquid medicine. They are also quite reliable and effective, but are not an example anymore.
The next type of inhaler is the auto-inhaler, which automatically delivers the medicine. Thus, the choice of devices for asthmatics is quite wide, and everyone can find a device that would suit him in all respects - despite the fact that experts generally recommend using a nebulizer after all.
Now briefly dwell on the advantages of inhalation therapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma. They are obvious, but it is still worth calling them. First of all, the indisputable advantage of inhalation is the fact that the medicine enters the affected organ as quickly as possible - that is, in the bronchi, and at the same time all the necessary substances are concentrated just in the right area, and not spread around the body. The third advantage of inhalation is that with such an effect, the drug has a therapeutic effect on the body for the longest time.
Above we spoke exclusively about inhalation therapy with the help of special devices, however, after all, this procedure can also be carried out by alternative methods, including with bronchial asthma. However, it is worth paying attention to some important aspects: for example, you can not use steam "folk" inhalations at the very beginning of the attack - they will not be able to stop choking, but only lead to a worsening of the condition. In addition, steam inhalation folk remedies is prohibited for children under seven years of age.
By the way, about the prohibitions: with bronchial asthma there are also contraindications, when it is strictly forbidden to carry out inhalation procedures. These are the situations:
- when asthma worsens, seizures are repeated twice a week and more often;
- when there are neoplasms and / or purulent processes in the respiratory system ;
- when neoplasms are in the brain;
- when the work of the heart is disturbed;
- when pulmonary and / or nosebleeds are common.
Inhalation in COPD
The strange abbreviation above is the name of a serious ailment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease in which, due to the fact that the lungs are in a constant state of inflammation and therefore they react sharply and very sensitively to everything that enters them, the flow of air into the organ is partially limited. In other words, this is a regular lack of oxygen. This process is irreversible, moreover, it is also progressive. Therefore, treatment should be ongoing, and inhalation therapy for COPD is one of the integral parts of this treatment.
Typically, with COPD, it is recommended to use metered-dose inhalers, but at a time when an exacerbation of the disease occurs and a person, by virtue of his condition, cannot control the dosage of the medicine, it is worth paying attention to nebulizers. The latter, by the way, in the treatment of COPD also have a beneficial effect on heart failure that often accompanies this disease.
Inhalation with pneumonia
Pneumonia is pneumonia, and if it’s bilateral, it’s also not a pleasant disease. Inhalations are also an excellent means of combating infection. The rules of the procedure are standard and comply with all of the above.
Pneumonia also has a number of contraindications to the use of inhalation therapy. Firstly, it is impossible to carry out such procedures for people with cardiovascular diseases. Secondly, they are also prohibited in severe pneumonia, as well as in the presence of shortness of breath. : / , , . , .
As for the devices used for inhalation in case of pneumonia, the nebulizer is also preferred here. Although, of course, it is not forbidden to use other methods - for example, steam inhalations, including folk remedies, are very common over potatoes, for example.
Interesting facts about inhalation therapy
- For the first time, the therapeutic effect of sea air, or rather, particles of salt in it, was described back in Ancient Rome.
- The first inhaler was invented in France, and this happened back in the mid-nineteenth century. That inhaler was under pressure, controlled by a hand pump. A steam inhaler, however, first appeared in Germany, and thus treated people suffering from various forms of tuberculosis.
- An electric atomizer was invented almost a century later - only in the thirties of the twentieth century, and in the middle of the century ultrasonic atomizers appeared.
- Using a nebulizer, you can also spray herbal infusions and decoctions, but they must first be carefully filtered.
- An inhaler is a means of personal hygiene, and therefore it is not recommended to use it as a whole family or, even worse, lend it to friends. There is a risk of catching other people's sores.
- There are inhalers, whose appearance is designed to interest the child. They are bright, colorful and look more like a toy than a medical device. With a similar device, children are treated more readily and more happily.
- The term “inhaler” itself was introduced into medicine and in general by a British therapist at the end of the eighteenth century. This Briton came up with his device for inhaling opium - he modernized a mug with a hole. He called this thing the inhaler.
- Even before our era, ancient people knew about the possibility of treatment with inhalations: for example, they inhaled the vapor of bleached to cure respiratory organs.
Inhalations are a truly effective procedure, and therefore are actively used in physiotherapy. Inhalation therapy, as a rule, does not bear any side effects and does not harm health - of course, if everything is done correctly and adhering to the recommendations. So it’s not for nothing that this “grandmother’s remedy” has been living for years!