Currently, there are many ways to treat various diseases, including, for example, all kinds of lung ailments. One of them is the method of inhalation, in other words, inhalation therapy. What is its specificity, and how to properly treat with inhalation?
What is inhalation
The word "inhalation" came into our speech from the Latin language, in translation from which it means "to inhale". This translation very accurately reflects the essence of the entire 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 receiving inhalations through devices, medicinal substances that enter the body are absorbed faster and better than ifit happened in some other way. This type of therapy is considered, in addition, the safest for all categories of the population. However, we will return to this issue later, but for now it is worth discussing the types of inhalation therapy - there are also many of them.
Types of inhalations
There are only five types of inhalation. These are steam - the most common inhalations, as well as dry, heat-moist, aerosol and oil. Let's talk a little more about each of these species.
Steam inhalation
This type of inhalation is considered the most common. Many have known him since childhood, because he is the easiest to use. It does not require special devices, 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 kettle. The bottom line is to inhale hot steam, into which, if the procedure is performed using the device, special medicines are also added. The steam warms up our nasal passages, throat, trachea - in general, the organs of the respiratory system, thinning the phlegm in them. This type of inhalation is good for all kinds of colds such as rhinitis, pharyngitis and the like.
Medications are not required for steam inhalations, but it is still possible and even recommended to add something to the steam: leaves of eucalyptus, hops, chamomile, St. John's wort. Some people add soda, but then it is important that the steam is not too hot - otherwise it will burn.
Dry inhalations
The types of inhalation therapy include dry inhalation. This is the inhalation of medicines in the form of a powder through special nebulizers. It is this type of inhalation that is used, including for bronchial asthma.
Heat-moist inhalations
This type of inhalation is mainly done not at home, but in the clinic, since it requires a compressor - this is the inhalation of moist air with a temperature of approximately forty degrees. However, there are special portable devices for inhalation therapy, with their help it is possible to carry out this procedure independently. Wet inhalations are usually done with a simple mineral water and are aimed at eliminating sputum.
Aerosol inhalations
The methods of inhalation therapy also include aerosol inhalations. This is the spraying of medicine in the form of an aerosol using a nebulizer or a special spray can. This method allows the particles of the medicinal substance to penetrate as deeply as possible to the more "remote" respiratory organs.
Oil inhalations
For a procedure of this kind, an 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 synthesis will only aggravate the situation. Therefore, it is worth considering this for those people who work in very polluted rooms.
Indications and contraindications for inhalation therapy
Any treatment must be prescribeddoctor. Each procedure has its own indications and contraindications. Inhalation therapy is no exception. Everyone who has ever thought about conducting it needs to know about all cases when the procedure is allowed or prohibited. Let's start studying these things, perhaps, with contraindications.
First and foremost: in no case should such therapy be carried out at elevated temperatures. This is considered a mark of 37.5 - and above. It does not matter which type of inhalation and which way the patient wants to use. Any type of inhalation therapy is also prohibited when:
- myocardial infarction and various heart diseases;
- for nosebleeds;
- lung failure and bleeding;
- stroke;
- allergies.
- steam inhalation is not possible with pleurisy;
- oil can not be done with an allergy to oils, hypertension of the second and third stages, atherosclerosis (in the latter case, the dry method of inhalation therapy is also prohibited);
- with weak blood vessels;
- Hydromoist inhalation should not be done if you have arrhythmia or heart failure, or if you have had a stroke or heart attack (and less than eight months have passed since then);
- 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, there are still more indications for inhalation therapy:
- All viral colds (such as SARS, influenza, rhinitis, and the like, including their complications).
- Bronchitis (both acute and chronic).
- Pneumonia.
- Asthma.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Fungus of the respiratory tract.
- HIV infections.
- Inhalation therapy is also indicated for the prevention of postoperative conditions.
And these are far from all situations when inhalations will be useful to the body!
Features of the procedure
The purpose of inhalation therapy is the impact 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 the case of a cough, spasms disappear, and the mucous membrane is moistened without fail - regardless of which disease is eliminated. In addition, inhalations are a topical therapy; some call them "grandmother's remedy". Similar features of inhalation therapy have allowed it to be successfully used for the treatment of the respiratory system both at home and in the hospital for many years.
Rules of procedure
There are special rules for conducting inhalation therapy - regardless of which methods or methods and methods of inhalation will be carried out. These rules must be followed strictly in order to get the most effective result.
It is also possible that the attending physician will haveadditional requirements for the implementation of the procedure. In this case, of course, you must fully obey his instructions.
So, the first and most important requirement is to carry out inhalation therapy not earlier than one and a half, or even two hours after eating. At the same time, after the procedure itself, neither eat nor drink for another hour. Also, for this period, you should refrain from smoking, singing and going out into the cold air.
Another rule to follow is choosing comfortable clothes and a comfortable posture. 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 it 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 the treatment is carried out to eliminate rhinitis or any other disease of the nose and / or paranasal sinuses (no matter what method of inhalation therapy is used), 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 still it should be clarified: any inhalation is carried out either through the nose or through the mouth - depending on which disease is requiredeliminate. Inhalations and exhalations should be light, without tension. Inhalation is a simple procedure, but it requires utmost care and maximum concentration, and therefore you should not be distracted by any extraneous things, including talking.
Methods of inhalation
There are several ways to carry out this procedure. We will not recall here about folk methods such as potatoes, a kettle and everything else, we will talk exclusively about devices for inhalation therapy. This is, firstly, a compressor - used in hospital conditions. Secondly, the nebulizer; in addition, special aerosols and inhalers, as well as a ventilator. Also, some consider smoking incense as a way of inhalation therapy.
The nebulizer is the most popular device, so let's take a closer look at it.
Nebulizer
What is a nebulizer? What is so special about it that makes it different from a regular inhaler?
The word "nebulizer" has roots in Latin and is translated into our language as "cloud". This is the whole point of the nebulizer device - it is an inhalation device that converts medicine in liquid form into a cloud. This is the same inhaler, but with one single difference - it has a narrower action, that is, it allows the medicine to get exactly to the area that is needed, while the spray spectrum of a conventional inhaler is wider. However, by and large, from an inhaler (which is translated from Latin as "inhale"), a nebulizer is not muchis different, and therefore many manufacturers and sellers even write on packages / labels that this product is an "inhaler / nebulizer". Only a steam inhaler cannot be attributed to nebulizers, all the rest have the right to be called at least that way, at least that way.
Nebulizers are static, 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.
Spray the medicine from the nebulizer to the patient in two ways - either through a mask or through a breathing tube. The latter is more commonly used.
When inhalation therapy with a nebulizer has its own specific requirements for how this procedure should occur. They are as follows:
- The procedure is done only while sitting, you can not lean forward.
- Do not drink expectorants before her.
- Make sure the medicine does not get into the eyes.
- You can not carry out the procedure for more than fifteen minutes.
- The mask (if used) should fit snugly to the face.
- Dissolve the drug 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.
Inhalations for various diseases
As has been repeatedly mentioned, the spectrum of action of inhalation drugs and inhalation devices themselves is very wide, they can be used to eliminate a variety of diseases of the respiratory system. Below we will talk about the features of treatment for some ailments.
Inhalations for asthma
For those who are not in the know, let's explain: asthma - or bronchial asthma - is such a severe 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 it is so important for every person suffering from this ailment to have some kind of pocket inhaler with them. Above, we have already found out that with asthma, you can use a nebulizer. But what other types of inhalers can be used for inhalation therapy of asthma? First, the spacer. This device is equipped with special valves that allow you to regulate the flow of drugs into the patient's body - this happens only when inhaling. Such a device is very convenient for the treatment of 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, thanks to which the medicine enters the body in certain doses. Its advantages are reliability in operation and a relatively low price. There are also metered-dose powder inhalers that spraypowder, not liquid medicine. They are also quite reliable and efficient, but they cost much more.
The next type of inhaler is an auto-inhaler that automatically delivers medication. 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 let's briefly dwell on the advantages of inhalation therapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma. They are obvious, but they are still worth mentioning. First of all, the indisputable advantage of inhalation is the fact that the medicine enters the affected organ as quickly as possible - that is, into the bronchi, and at the same time all the necessary substances are concentrated just in the right area, and do not spread throughout the body. The third advantage of inhalation is that with such exposure, the drug has a therapeutic effect on the body for the longest time.
Above, it was only about inhalation therapy with the help of special devices, but after all, this procedure can be carried out with folk methods, including in bronchial asthma. However, here it is worth paying attention to some important aspects: for example, steam “folk” inhalations cannot be used at the very beginning of an attack - they will not be able to stop suffocation, but will only lead to a worsening of the condition. In addition, steam inhalation with folk remedies is prohibited for children under the age of seven.
By the way, about prohibitions: bronchial asthma has its own contraindications, when it is strictly forbidden to carry out inhalation procedures. These situations are:
- when asthma worsens, attacks recur twice a week or more often;
- when there are neoplasms and/or purulent processes in the respiratory system;
- when there are neoplasms in the brain;
- when the work of the heart is disturbed;
- when lung and/or nosebleeds are not uncommon.
Inhalations for COPD
The strange abbreviation above is the name of a serious illness. 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 react sharply and very sensitively to everything that enters them, the air flow to the organ is partially limited. In other words, it 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 very treatment.
Usually COPD is recommended to use metered-dose inhalers, but during the period when there is an exacerbation of the disease and a person, due to his condition, cannot control the dose of the drug, you should pay attention to nebulizers. The latter, by the way, in the treatment of COPD also have a beneficial effect on the heart failure that often accompanies this disease.
Inhalations for pneumonia
Pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs, and ifalso bilateral - also not a pleasant disease. Inhalations are also an excellent means of combating infection here. The rules of the procedure are standard and correspond to all described 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. Also, inhalations should be refrained from in all of the following cases: in the presence of pus and / or blood in the sputum, nosebleeds, tuberculosis. Lung tumors, allergies.
As for the devices used for inhalation in case of pneumonia, here too, preference is given to the nebulizer. Although, of course, it is not forbidden to use other methods - for example, steam inhalations are very common, including folk remedies - over potatoes, for example.
Interesting facts about inhalation therapy
- For the first time, the healing effect of sea air, or rather, particles of s alt in it, was described in ancient Rome.
- The first inhaler was invented in France, and it happened back in the middle of the nineteenth century. That inhaler was pressurized, controlled by a hand pump. The steam inhaler originated first in Germany, and people suffering from various forms of tuberculosis were treated in this way.
- The electric spray was invented almost a century later - only in the thirties of the twentieth century, and inmid-century, ultrasonic nebulizers appeared.
- Using a nebulizer, you can also spray herbal infusions and decoctions, but they must first be carefully filtered.
- The inhaler is a personal hygiene product, and therefore it is not recommended to use it with the 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 such a device, children are treated more willingly and more cheerfully.
- The term "inhaler" itself was introduced into medicine and into speech in general by a British therapist at the end of the eighteenth century. This Briton came up with his own device for inhaling opium - he modernized a mug with a hole. It was this thing that he called an inhaler.
- Even before our era, ancient people knew about the possibility of inhalation treatment: for example, they inhaled the fumes of henbane to heal the respiratory system.
Inhalations are a really effective procedure, and therefore are actively used in physiotherapy. Inhalation therapy, as a rule, does not carry any side effects and does not harm he alth - of course, if everything is done correctly and the recommendations are followed. So it's not for nothing that this "grandmother's remedy" lives for years!
