Introduction to Nebulizers
Using a Nebulizer
A nebulizer is a small machine that delivers medicine in a mist to a person’s breathing passages. Breathing in medicines in moist air to the lungs improves the ability to breathe and cough up any thick secretions. Nebulizers are commonly used for persons with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. Medicines given through a nebulizer include bronchodilators (which widen airway passages), steroids (which reduce inflammation and narrowing of airways),and mucolytics (which thin mucus making secretions easier to cough up).
Nebulizers can also deliver humidified oxygen (oxygen mixed with a water mist). Oxygen alone is very dry. However, when given through a nebulizer, the oxygen and water create a mist, which is less irritating to mucus membranes so secretions remain wet and loose. This is a common treatment for people with emphysema and who have tracheostomies.
A nebulizer is easy to use, but it takes about 10 minutes to deliver a medicine. The nebulizer device is powered by a compressed air machine and plugs into an electrical outlet. Portable nebulizers, powered by batteries or automobile cigarette lighters, are available for individuals requiring treatments away from home. A nebulizer weighs under 10 pounds and it is easy to move from place to place.
Here is Matt’s Story:
My dad was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx (voicebox) about a year ago. Because surgery was required to remove his larynx, a tracheostomy, or an opening in his windpipe, was needed in his neck so he could breathe. Recently, Dad became ill with pneumonia and was hospitalized. He was really sick for a couple of weeks. When he came home from the hospital we had to help him use his nebulizer for some of his medicines. Actually, the nebulizer is pretty easy to use, we just make sure dad is able to hold it correctly and breathe in deeply when inhaling his medicine. The home health nurse stressed the importance of cleaning the nebulizer daily. A thorough cleaning to disinfect the parts of the machine is also done every few days, and is real easy to do.