Australia, 05 January 2021: There are a lot of modern technologies that aid in the resolution of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). The airway clearing devices vibrate and loosen the mucus and help to improve the lungs health.
The essential device of COPD is a nebulizer. It uses a motor to convert the effective drugs used for the patients suffering from COPD from liquid to mist. The patient inhales the drug through a mouthpiece or mask. There are three types of nebulizers which convert the liquid drug to a mist. These are jet, ultrasonic and vibrating mesh.
● Jet nebulizers: It is the oldest type. It is used to compress air which generates a fine mist. It is available in two models one-is tabletop and handheld models. There is no medication restriction for the device. It is difficult to clean and it produces a lot of noise.
● Ultrasonic nebulizers: It is newer and quieter than a jet nebulizer. It is a handheld device, and a bit costlier than jet nebulizer. It produces ultrasonic vibrations and a fine mist. However, the nebulizer is not suitable for all COPD patients. It is because it transfers the heat from the ultrasonic vibrations through the medications.
● Vibrating mesh nebulizers: It is new and expensive compared to the previous two, and it is also more portable compared to the other two. But they are delicate to clean compared to the other two as these two can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher and boiling them.
Advantages and disadvantages of nebulizers:
Pros:
● It does not require that much training like inhalers.
● During a COPD attack, the nebulizer is more helpful and easy to use than an inhaler.
● Nebulizers are much more comfortable than taking doses of drugs.
Cons:
● It takes time to use. It takes around 15 minutes of slow breathing.
● Inhalers are cost-effective than nebulizers.
● The power source is required to run the device.
Nebulizers vs. inhalers
It is essential to know that nebulizers and inhalers are useful in many situations. But, the nebulizers are the better in some instances for COPD patients. These deliver a continuous mist of medicines that the patients breathe for 10 to 15 minutes or longer. It allows a patient to breathe normally through the mouth during the treatment.
In the other hand, inhalers produce a short burst of medications. With inhaler, a person needs to coordinate the breath to inhale and exhale quickly and deeply.
Also, there are certain drugs used for COPD patients which can be delivered by nebulizers only.
Conclusion
If there is a COPD patient, it is essential to talk to the doctor and advise which device should be used by the patient.