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I do not have the materials because my grandparents couldn't find the Slaked lime, so I used this video as an alternative. I am terribly sorry.

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Lime water and carbon dioxide Experiment

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Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs. It makes breathing difficult and can make some physical activities challenging or even impossible.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 25 million Americans have asthma.

It's the most common chronic condition among American children: 1 child out of every 12 has asthma.

To understand asthma, it's necessary to understand a little about what happens when you breathe.

Normally, with every breath you take, air goes through your nose or mouth and down into your throat and into your airways, eventually making it to your lungs.

There are lots of small air passages in your lungs that help deliver oxygen from the air into your bloodstream.

Asthma symptoms occur when the lining of your airways swell and the muscles around them tighten. Mucus then fills the airways, further reducing the amount of air that can pass through.

These conditions can then bring on an asthma "attack," the coughing and tightness in your chest that's typical of asthma.

The most common symptom of asthma is wheezing, a squealing or whistling sound made when you breathe.

Other asthma symptoms may include:

coughing, especially at night, when laughing, or during exercise

tightness in the chest

shortness of breath

difficulty talking

anxiousness or panic

fatigue

The type of asthma that you have can determine which symptoms you experience.

Not everyone with asthma will experience these particular symptoms. If you think the symptoms you're experiencing could be a sign of a condition such as asthma, make an appointment to see your doctor.

The first indication that you have asthma may not be an actual asthma attack.

There are many different types of asthma. The most common type is bronchial asthma, which affects the bronchi in the lungs.

Additional forms of asthma include childhood asthma and adult-onset asthma. In adult-onset asthma, symptoms don't appear until at least age 20.

Other specific types of asthma are described below.

Allergic asthma (extrinsic asthma)

Allergens trigger this common type of asthma. These might include:

Allergic asthma is often seasonal because it often goes hand-in-hand with seasonal allergies.

Nonallergic asthma (intrinsic asthma)

Irritants in the air not related to allergies trigger this type of asthma. These irritants might include:

burning wood

cigarette smoke

cold air

air pollution

viral illnesses

air fresheners

household cleaning products

perfumes

Occupational asthma

Occupational asthma is a type of asthma induced by triggers in the workplace. These include:

These irritants can exist in a wide range of industries, including:

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) usually affects people within a few minutes of starting exercise and up to 10-15 minutes after physical activity.

This condition was previously known as exercise-induced asthma (EIA).

Up to 90 percent of people with asthma also experience EIB, but not everyone with EIB will have other types of asthma.

Aspirin-induced asthma

Aspirin-induced asthma (AIA), also called aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), is usually severe.

It's triggered by taking aspirin or another NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), such as naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil).

The symptoms may begin within minutes or hours. These patients also typically have nasal polyps.

About 9 percent of people with asthma have AIA. It usually develops suddenly in adults between the ages of 20 and 50.

Nocturnal asthma

In this type of asthma, symptoms worsen at night.

Triggers that are thought to bring on symptoms at night include:

The body's natural sleep cycle may also trigger nocturnal asthma.

Cough-variant asthma (CVA)

Cough-variant asthma (CVA) doesn't have classic asthma symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath. It's characterized by a persistent, dry cough.

If it's not treated, CVA can lead to full-blown asthma flares that include the other more common symptoms.

There's no single test or exam that will determine if you or your child has asthma. Instead, your doctor will use a variety of criteria to determine if the symptoms are the result of asthma.

The following can help diagnose asthma:

Health history. If you have family members with the breathing disorder, your risk is higher. Alert your doctor to this genetic connection.

Physical exam. Your doctor will listen to your breathing with a stethoscope. You may also be given a skin test to look for signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives or eczema. Allergies increase your risk for asthma.

Breathing tests. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) measure airflow into and out of your lungs. For the most common test, spirometry, you blow into a device that measures the speed of the air.

Doctors don't typically perform breathing tests in children under 5 years of age because it's difficult to get an accurate reading.

Instead, they may prescribe asthma medications to your child and wait to see if symptoms improve. If they do, your child likely has asthma.

For adults, your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator or other asthma medication if test results indicate asthma.

If symptoms improve with the use of this medication, your doctor will continue to treat your condition as asthma.

To help diagnose and treat asthma, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) classifies the condition based on its severity before treatment.

Asthma classifications include:

Intermittent. Most people have this type of asthma, which doesn't interfere with daily activities. Symptoms are mild, lasting fewer than two days per week or two nights per month.

Mild persistent. The symptoms occur more than twice a week - but not daily - and up to four nights per month.

Moderate persistent. The symptoms occur daily and at least one night every week, but not nightly. They may limit some daily activities.

Severe persistent. The symptoms occur several times every day and most nights. Daily activities are extremely limited.

No single cause has been identified for asthma. Instead, researchers believe that the breathing condition is caused by a variety of factors. These factors include:

Genetics. If a parent or sibling has asthma, you're more likely to develop it.

History of viral infections. People with a history of severe viral infections during childhood (e.g. RSV) may be more likely to develop the condition.

Hygiene hypothesis. This theory explains that when babies aren't exposed to enough bacteria in their early months and years, their immune systems don't become strong enough to fight off asthma and other allergic conditions.

Treatments for asthma fall into three primary categories:

breathing exercises

quick-acting treatments

long-term asthma control medications

Your doctor will recommend one treatment or combination of treatments based on:

the type of asthma you have

your age

your triggers

Breathing exercises

These exercises can help you get more air into and out of your lungs. Over time, this may help increase lung capacity and cut down on severe asthma symptoms.

Your doctor or an occupational therapist can help you learn these breathing exercises for asthma.

Quick-relief asthma treatments

These medications should only be used in the event of asthma symptoms or an attack. They provide quick relief to help you breathe again.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators work within minutes to relax the tightened muscles around your airwaves. They can be taken as an inhaler (rescue) or nebulizer.

First aid asthma treatment

If you think that someone you know is having an asthma attack, tell them to sit them upright and assist them in using their rescue inhaler or nebulizer. Two to six puffs of medication should help ease their symptoms.

If symptoms persist for more than 20 minutes, and a second round of medication doesn't help, seek emergency medical attention.

If you frequently need to use quick-relief medications, you should ask your doctor about another type of medication for long-term asthma control.

Long-term asthma control medications

These medications, taken daily, help reduce the number and severity of your asthma symptoms, but they don't manage the immediate symptoms of an attack.

Long-term asthma control medications include the following:

Anti-inflammatories. Taken with an inhaler, corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory medications help reduce swelling and mucus production in your airwaves, making it easier to breathe.

Anticholinergics. These help stop your muscles from tightening around your airwaves. They're usually taken daily in combination with anti-inflammatories.

Long-acting bronchodilators. These should only be used in combination with anti-inflammatory asthma medications.

Biologic therapy drugs. These new, injectable medications may help people with severe asthma.

Bronchial thermoplasty

This treatment uses an electrode to heat the airwaves inside the lungs, helping to reduce the size of the muscle and prevent it from tightening.

Bronchial thermoplasty is intended for people with severe asthma. It isn't widely available.

When your asthma symptoms get progressively worse, it's known as an exacerbation, or an asthma attack.

It becomes increasingly difficult to breathe because your airways are swollen and your bronchial tubes have narrowed.

The symptoms of an exacerbation may include:

hyperventilation

cough

wheezing

shortness of breath

increased heart rate

agitation

Although an exacerbation can end quickly without medication, you should contact your doctor because it can be life threatening.

The longer an exacerbation continues, the more it can affect your ability to breathe. That's why exacerbations often require a trip to the emergency room.

Exacerbations can be prevented by taking medications that help manage your asthma symptoms.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are commonly mistaken for one another.

They result in similar symptoms, including wheezing, coughing, and trouble breathing. However, the two conditions are quite different.

COPD is an umbrella term used to identify a group of progressive respiratory diseases that include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

These diseases cause reduced airflow due to inflammation in the airways. The conditions may worsen over time.

Asthma can occur at any age, with a majority of diagnoses coming in childhood. Most people with COPD are at least age 45 at the time of their diagnosis.

Over 40 percent of people with COPD also have asthma, and the risk for having both conditions increases with age.

It's not clear what causes asthma besides genetics, but asthma attacks are often the result of exposure to triggers, such as physical activity or smells. These triggers can make breathing problems worse.

The most common cause of COPD is smoking. In fact, smoking accounts for up to 9 out of 10 COPD-related deaths.

The goal of treatment for both asthma and COPD is to reduce symptoms so you can maintain an active lifestyle.

Certain conditions and environments may also trigger symptoms of asthma. The list of possible causes and triggers is extensive. Triggers include:

Illness. Respiratory illnesses such as viruses, pneumonia, and the flu can trigger asthma attacks.

Exercise. Increased movement may make breathing more difficult.

Irritants in the air. People with asthma may be sensitive to irritants, such as chemical fumes, strong odors, and smoke.

Allergens. Animal dander, dust mites, and pollen are just a few examples of allergens that can trigger symptoms.

Extreme weather conditions. Conditions such as very high humidity or low temperatures may trigger asthma.

Emotions. Shouting, laughing, and crying may trigger an attack.

Because researchers have yet to identify the exact cause of asthma, it's challenging to know how to prevent the inflammatory condition.

However, more information is known about preventing asthma attacks. These strategies include:

Avoiding triggers. Steer clear of chemicals, smells, or products that have caused breathing problems in the past.

Reducing exposure to allergens. If you've identified allergens, such as dust or mold, that trigger an asthma attack, avoid them as best you can.

Getting allergy shots. Allergen immunotherapy is a type of treatment that may help alter your immune system. With routine shots, your body may become less sensitive to any triggers you encounter.

Taking preventive medication. Your doctor may prescribe medication for you to take on a daily basis. This medication may be used in addition to the one you use in case of an emergency.

Your doctor can help you put an asthma action plan in place so that you know which treatments to use and when.

In addition to using maintenance medications, you can take steps each day to help make yourself healthier and reduce your risk for asthma attacks. These include:

Eating a healthier diet. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help improve your overall health.

Maintaining a healthy weight. Asthma tends to be worse in people with overweight and obesity. Losing weight is healthy for your heart, your joints, and your lungs.

Quitting smoking. Irritants such as cigarette smoke can trigger asthma and increase your risk for COPD.

Exercising regularly. Activity can trigger an asthma attack, but regular exercise may actually help reduce the risk of breathing problems.

Managing stress. Stress can be a trigger for asthma symptoms. Stress can also make stopping an asthma attack more difficult.

Nutrient-rich foods are vital to helping reduce symptoms, but food allergies can trigger asthma symptoms.

At the moment, there's no cure for asthma. However, there are many effective treatments that can decrease asthma symptoms. Lifestyle changes and medications can also help improve your quality of life.

If you haven't been diagnosed with asthma but are experiencing symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. You can connect to a physician in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.

Once you're diagnosed with asthma, you should see your doctor at least once a year or more frequently if you have persistent symptoms after using treatments.

Call your doctor immediately if you:

feel weak

can't perform daily activities

have a wheeze or cough that won't go away

It's important to educate yourself about your condition and its symptoms. The more you know, the more proactive you can be in improving your lung function and how you feel.

Talk with your doctor about:

your type of asthma

what triggers your symptoms

what daily treatments are best for you

your treatment plan for an asthma attack

Read this article in Spanish

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Asthma can make breathing difficult and cause coughing and wheezing. Learn about the different types of asthma here, such as bronchial asthma and allergic asthma. Discover risk factors and find out whether it's preventable. Also get lifestyle tips, see how it's related to COPD or how it affects pregnancy, and more.

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Overview

Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture - creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.

When you exhale, the damaged alveoli don't work properly and old air becomes trapped, leaving no room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter.

Most people with emphysema also have chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the tubes that carry air to your lungs (bronchial tubes), which leads to a persistent cough.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two conditions that make up chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Treatment may slow the progression of COPD, but it can't reverse the damage.

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Symptoms

You can have emphysema for many years without noticing any signs or symptoms. The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath, which usually begins gradually.

You may start avoiding activities that cause you to be short of breath, so the symptom doesn't become a problem until it starts interfering with daily tasks. Emphysema eventually causes shortness of breath even while you're at rest.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you've had unexplained shortness of breath for several months, especially if it's getting worse or it's interfering with your daily activities. Don't ignore it by telling yourself it's because you're aging or out of shape. Seek immediate medical attention if:

You're so short of breath, you can't climb stairs

Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray with exertion

You're not mentally alert

Causes

The main cause of emphysema is long-term exposure to airborne irritants, including:

Tobacco smoke

Marijuana smoke

Air pollution

Chemical fumes and dust

Rarely, emphysema is caused by an inherited deficiency of a protein that protects the elastic structures in the lungs. It's called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency emphysema.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of developing emphysema include:

Smoking. Emphysema is most likely to develop in cigarette smokers, but cigar and pipe smokers also are susceptible. The risk for all types of smokers increases with the number of years and amount of tobacco smoked.

Age. Although the lung damage that occurs in emphysema develops gradually, most people with tobacco-related emphysema begin to experience symptoms of the disease between the ages of 40 and 60.

Exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, also known as passive or environmental tobacco smoke, is smoke that you inadvertently inhale from someone else's cigarette, pipe or cigar. Being around secondhand smoke increases your risk of emphysema.

Occupational exposure to fumes or dust. If you breathe fumes from certain chemicals or dust from grain, cotton, wood or mining products, you're more likely to develop emphysema. This risk is even greater if you smoke.

Exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution. Breathing indoor pollutants, such as fumes from heating fuel, as well as outdoor pollutants - car exhaust, for instance - increases your risk of emphysema.

Complications

People who have emphysema are also more likely to develop:

Collapsed lung (pneumothorax). A collapsed lung can be life-threatening in people who have severe emphysema, because the function of their lungs is already so compromised. This is uncommon but serious when it occurs.

Heart problems. Emphysema can increase the pressure in the arteries that connect the heart and lungs. This can cause a condition called cor pulmonale, in which a section of the heart expands and weakens.

Large holes in the lungs (bullae). Some people with emphysema develop empty spaces in the lungs called bullae. They can be as large as half the lung. In addition to reducing the amount of space available for the lung to expand, giant bullae can increase your risk of pneumothorax.

Prevention

To prevent emphysema, don't smoke and avoid breathing secondhand smoke. Wear a mask to protect your lungs if you work with chemical fumes or dust.

Show references

1. What is COPD? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd/#. Accessed Jan. 9, 2017.

2. Mason RJ, et al. COPD: Pathogenesis and natural history. In: Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 11, 2017.

3. Goldman L, et al., eds. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 12, 2017.

4. AskMayoExpert. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2016.

5. Longo DL, et al., eds. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed Jan. 11, 2017.

6. Weiss ST. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Risk factors and risk reduction. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 11, 2017.

7. Han MK, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Definition, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and staging. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 11, 2017.

8. Ferguson GT, et al. Management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 11, 2017.

9. What is bronchitis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/brnchi. Accessed Jan. 9, 2017.

10. Jong EC, et al. Travel with chronic medical conditions. In: Travel and Tropical Medicine Manual. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008.

11. Gautret P, et al. Travel-associated illness in older adults (>60 y). Journal of Travel Medicine. 2012;19:169.

12. Fishwick D, et al. Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A standard of care. Occupational Medicine. 2015;65:270.

13. Support and community. American Lung Association. http://www.lung.org/support-and-community/. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.

14. COPD treatment options. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/copd/breathing-better/treatment-options.htm. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.

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Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture - creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones.

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EMPHYSEMA, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

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Treatments

Treatment cannot cure emphysema, but it can help:

slow the progress of the condition

manage the symptoms

prevent complications

boost a person’s overall health and well-being

Supportive therapy includes oxygen therapy and help with quitting smoking.

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Causes

It isn't clear why some people get asthma and others don't, but it's probably due to a combination of environmental and inherited (genetic) factors.

Asthma triggers
Exposure to various irritants and substances that trigger allergies (allergens) can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma. Asthma triggers are different from person to person and can include:

Airborne allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander or particles of cockroach waste

Respiratory infections, such as the common cold

Physical activity

Cold air

Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke

Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve)

Strong emotions and stress

Sulfites and preservatives added to some types of foods and beverages, including shrimp, dried fruit, processed potatoes, beer and wine

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your throat

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Symptoms
You can have emphysema for many years without noticing any signs or symptoms. The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath, which usually begins gradually.

You may start avoiding activities that cause you to be short of breath, so the symptom doesn't become a problem until it starts interfering with daily tasks. Emphysema eventually causes shortness of breath even while you're at rest.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you've had unexplained shortness of breath for several months, especially if it's getting worse or it's interfering with your daily activities. Don't ignore it by telling yourself it's because you're aging or out of shape. Seek immediate medical attention if:

You're so short of breath, you can't climb stairs

Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray with exertion

You're not mentally alert

Causes
The main cause of emphysema is long-term exposure to airborne irritants, including:

Tobacco smoke

Marijuana smoke

Air pollution

Chemical fumes and dust

Rarely, emphysema is caused by an inherited deficiency of a protein that protects the elastic structures in the lungs. It's called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency emphysema.

Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of developing emphysema include:

Smoking. Emphysema is most likely to develop in cigarette smokers, but cigar and pipe smokers also are susceptible. The risk for all types of smokers increases with the number of years and amount of tobacco smoked.

Age. Although the lung damage that occurs in emphysema develops gradually, most people with tobacco-related emphysema begin to experience symptoms of the disease between the ages of 40 and 60.

Exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, also known as passive or environmental tobacco smoke, is smoke that you inadvertently inhale from someone else's cigarette, pipe or cigar. Being around secondhand smoke increases your risk of emphysema.

Occupational exposure to fumes or dust. If you breathe fumes from certain chemicals or dust from grain, cotton, wood or mining products, you're more likely to develop emphysema. This risk is even greater if you smoke.

Exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution. Breathing indoor pollutants, such as fumes from heating fuel, as well as outdoor pollutants — car exhaust, for instance — increases your risk of emphysema.

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In emphysema, the inner walls of the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) are damaged, causing them to eventually rupture. This creates one larger air space instead of many small ones and reduces the surface area available for gas exchange.

# data[].attributes.body
Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture — creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.

When you exhale, the damaged alveoli don't work properly and old air becomes trapped, leaving no room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter.

Most people with emphysema also have chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the tubes that carry air to your lungs (bronchial tubes), which leads to a persistent cough.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two conditions that make up chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Treatment may slow the progression of COPD, but it can't reverse the damage.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/emphysema/symptoms-causes/syc-20355555

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How does asthma work? - Christopher E. Gaw

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How does inhalers help someone with asthma?
Inhalers are a medical treatment that can treat your airways, so you can breathe and avoid a more serious asthmatic episode. If you’re already having such an episode, an inhaler can get your breathing back on a more even level.
asthma inhalers can alleviate the symptoms of asthma. These symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, an inability to breathe, and coughing. Sometimes these symptoms come on for a short time, such as a couple of minutes and other times you may notice a gradual worsening of your breathing over several days.

Rescue Inhalers which contain albuterol are designed to provide relief. Once you take a few puffs on the inhaler, you should notice that your asthma symptoms calm down within 5 to 10 minutes.

Anti-inflammatory inhaled medications such as steroid inhalers are the preferred treatment of allergy providers for warding off asthmatic symptoms. When used regularly they help decrease the inflammation (swelling) in your airways which causes your airways to be blocked.

There are some inhalers which help dry out lungs and some which have long acting medicines to help airways stay open. Many inhalers contain a combination of medicines. Your allergy provider will help find one tailored to your symptoms.

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While you do your best each day to avoid the triggers that might kickstart your asthma symptoms, you can't always prepare for everything. For instance, you might engage in physical activity that's more vigorous than predicted. The air quality around you might suddenly and unexpectedly change due to smoke, pollen or other irritants.

During those times, it helps to have an inhaler. Inhalers are a medical treatment that can treat your airways, so you can breathe and avoid a more serious asthmatic episode. If you're already having such an episode, an inhaler can get your breathing back on a more even level.

Not all inhalers are the same, and depending on your age, health and lifestyle, you will be prescribed one over another by your allergist. In this article, we'll discuss the various kinds of inhalers as well as how they help manage asthma symptoms.
See related: Asthma Attacks: Triggers and Treatments
Understanding the Different Types of Inhaled Medication Devices:

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or AAAI, inhalers are identified by three categories or types. These include dry powder inhalers or DPIs, nebulizers and metered dose inhalers or MDIs.

Metered Dose Inhalers: When you think of a standard inhaler, you're imagining an MDI. This inhaler has two parts, the mouthpiece and the pressurized medication canister. You put the mouthpiece into your mouth and then press down. When you breathe, the medication is propelled into your lungs. Again, you must breathe quickly and deeply for the medication to be effective. Holding your breath after dosing will help it be absorbed by your airways.

Nebulizers: Nebulizer aerosolize asthma medications which are then inhaled using a mask or mouthpiece. You wear them over your face, specifically your mouth and nose. They require less coordination than inhalers. If you're ill, an older adult or a young child, a nebulizer may be prescribed instead of a DPI or MDI.

Dry Powder Inhalers: This type of inhaler delivers medications to your lungs in a powder form. Breathing in (inhalations) will pull the medication out of the inhaler into your lungs. To use a DPI, you must inhale slowly and deeply so that the medication can reach your lungs. Again holding your breath after dosing helps the medicine be the most effective.

How Do Inhalers Help with Asthma?

As we mentioned earlier in this article, asthma inhalers can alleviate the symptoms of asthma. These symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, an inability to breathe, and coughing. Sometimes these symptoms come on for a short time, such as a couple of minutes and other times you may notice a gradual worsening of your breathing over several days.

Rescue Inhalers which contain albuterol are designed to provide relief. Once you take a few puffs on the inhaler, you should notice that your asthma symptoms calm down within 5 to 10 minutes.

Anti-inflammatory inhaled medications such as steroid inhalers are the preferred treatment of allergy providers for warding off asthmatic symptoms. When used regularly they help decrease the inflammation (swelling) in your airways which causes your airways to be blocked.

There are some inhalers which help dry out lungs and some which have long acting medicines to help airways stay open. Many inhalers contain a combination of medicines. Your allergy provider will help find one tailored to your symptoms.

What Happens When You Use an Inhaler?

Asthma leads to inflammation and swelling of the airways and narrowing of the airways in the lungs. This is what prohibits your normal breathing when asthma attacks start. When you breathe in the medication in your inhaler, the airways relax allowing your breathing to return to normal. Not only that, but your bronchial tubes might become more stable, hypersensitivity of the airways may decrease, and mucus production may regulate. Steroid inhalers work long term to decrease airway swelling which opens your airways even more.
See related: What Does Asthma Do to Your Body
If you are taking inhaled corticosteroids as prescribed by your doctor or immunologist, you might want to gargle with water when you're finished taking the medication. This is only if you're on medications such as beclomethasone, like fluticasone, budesonide and beclomethasone.

How Often Should You Use Your Inhaler?

This is a good question, but its answer will depend on your provider's instructions. There are various factors that will dictate the regularity in which you use this medication.

For instance, one factor is how often you have asthmatic episodes. If these occur often, then your allergy provider may recommend more frequent inhaler use. This is especially true if you're prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid. Such a medication can potentially safeguard you from intense asthmatic symptoms and episodes, but only if taken often. That means that on days when you're breathing well, you'll still have to remember to medicate with an inhaled corticosteroid.

It's necessary to inform your provider if your current asthma plan isn't working. If you're still having serious asthmatic episodes, you may need a rescue inhaler such as a bronchodilator. This medication has no steroids. Instead, it acts as a relaxant that affects the airway muscles and promotes healthy breathing.

How Carolina Asthma and Allergy Can Help

If you do need further help with your asthma symptoms, come to Carolina Asthma & Allergy in Charlotte, North Carolina. Whether it's allergies or asthma that's causing shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, and other uncomfortable symptoms, we can help diagnose you and create an asthma plan that works for you.

Contact us today or stop by our more than dozen locations across the great Charlotte area.

Related Posts

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How Do Inhalers Help with Asthma? | Carolina Asthma & Allergy

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While you do your best each day to avoid the triggers that might kickstart your asthma symptoms, you can't always prepare for everything. For instance, you might engage in physical activity that's more vigorous than predicted. The air quality around you might suddenly and unexpectedly change due to smoke, pollen or other irritants.

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Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. You may have symptoms only at certain times - such as when exercising - or have symptoms.

Symptoms
Asthma signs and symptoms include:

Shortness of breath

Chest tightness or pain

Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children

Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing

Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu.

Signs that your asthma is probably worsening include:

Asthma signs and symptoms that are more frequent and bothersome

Increasing difficulty breathing, as measured with a device used to check how well your lungs are working (peak flow meter)

The need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often

For some people, asthma signs and symptoms flare up in certain situations:

Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry

Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust

Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste, or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets (pet dander)

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is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath.

For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.

Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Because asthma often changes over time, it's important that you work with your doctor to track your signs and symptoms and adjust your treatment as needed.