Asthma Inhalers Central

In our article about metered-dose inhalers, we said that some people have trouble using asthma puffers, since they have to coordinate the pressing of the inhaler with the inhalation of the medicine. The answer to this is the asthma spacer, also called aerosol-holding chambers, add-on devices, and spacing devices.

A spacer is a plastic or metal tube that slows the delivery of medication from the inhaler, thereby increasing its effectiveness. Spacers fit the inhaler on one end, while the user breathes normally on the other end.

I’ve used an asthma inhaler spacer quite a few times, especially when I was a child. The last time was about two years ago, when my inhaler came with a free spacer. Based on experience, spacers really made taking the medicine easier. Unfortunately, I’ve since lost the tube.

According to CNN Health:

The spacer acts as a holding chamber that keeps the medication from escaping into the air. Releasing the medication into the chamber gives you time to inhale more slowly. It decreases the amount of medicine that’s deposited on the back of your throat and increases the amount that reaches your lungs.

The website Asthma.ca agrees (take note of the emphasized sentence):

Spacers can make it easier for medication to reach the lungs, and also mean less medication gets deposited in the mouth and throat, where it can lead to irritation and mild infections. The Asthma Society of Canada recommends that anyone, of any age, using a puffer, consider using a spacer.

When I read that line, it made me consider buying a new spacer for my inhaler. Anyway, a visual guide on how to use a spacer, along with cleaning tips and important reminders, can be found at Asthma.ca.