Introduction
The word inhalation has its origin in Latin and means “to breathe in”. In inhalation, droplets are inhaled and thus transported into the upper respiratory tract, and in some cases down to the lower airways. Inhalations are widely used, for example, for colds and flu.
In this case, they serve to dissolve mucus. In the typical inhalation of steam, relatively large droplets are inhaled. Due to their size, these only reach the area from the mouth and throat to the vocal folds. This type of inhalation therefore serves primarily to moisten the dry mucous membranes.
Performance of an inhalation
Inhalation can be done with simple means. The oldest variant is probably the one with a pot of hot water and a towel over the head. The water should not boil but be about 60-80°C warm.
Alternatively, you can buy simple plastic inhalers for small money in drugstores and pharmacies. Here warm water is poured in at the bottom and inhaled through the opening. Essential oils like thyme, sage or lavender are suitable as additives.
Here you add a few drops (about 3-6) to 1-2 liters of water, depending on the instructions. Camomile or sage tea can also be added. Best is 1-2 tablespoons per 2 liters.
The easiest way is inhalation with common salt. Here, about 2 tablespoons of salt can be added to 2 liters. You can inhale several times a day. The respective duration also depends on the additives. 10-15 minutes with table salt and teas, only 5-8 minutes with the addition of essential oils.
What inhalation devices are available?
In the field of inhalation therapy, various inhalation devices have become established which have different modes of action and are suitable for different diseases. The therapeutic spectrum of inhalation therapy can range from simple humidification of the upper respiratory tract to acute use for pulmonary diseases, which is why a particular inhalation device must be specifically tailored to a particular disease. Most commercially available devices aim to deliver the active ingredient into the bronchi and smaller lung components.
These include jet or ultrasonic nebulizers based on inhalation with mist. The nozzle nebulizer converts the active ingredient into a fine mist by means of compressed air, whereas ultrasound works by means of rapid mechanical vibrations. Both methods can be equipped with different active ingredients and can thus be used to treat colds, tonsillitis, pneumonia, asthma or bronchitis.
Sprays that are inhaled are used in the therapy of respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The sprays are usually available in the form of so-called metered dose inhalers and are often fitted with a spacer. This ensures that the droplets to be inhaled are highly disintegrated.
This enables the droplets to reach the respiratory tract much further than pure steam. They pass through the windpipe and into the bronchi. This is important because that is where they have to attack in order to relieve the symptoms of asthma or COPD.
Jet or ultrasonic nebulizers can also be used for these respiratory diseases. For this purpose, suitable medication can be added to the nebula, which is then inhaled. To facilitate inhalation, so-called “spacers” can be used.
They are placed between the mouth and the inhalation device and simplify the coordination between spray and inhalation. They are used in particular in the therapy of COPD in combination with metered dose inhalers. The dosing aerosols can produce particularly small drops of liquid with fine spray heads, which allow an enormously deep penetration into the lungs.
This penetration depth may be necessary for the introduction of anti-inflammatory agents in COPD. These have the advantage that the droplets are atomized and thus become smaller, so they reach deeper into the respiratory tract than with pure steam inhalation. This can be useful in the case of bronchitis, for example.
Nebulizers with nozzles or ultrasonic nebulizers usually do not produce warm steam but mist that is not heated. This can be beneficial for children, for example. For children, there are also steam inhalers for classic inhalation, which are a more pleasant way of moistening the mucous membranes.
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