An inhaler is a medical device used for delivering medication into the body via the lungs. It is often used in the treatment of asthma.

Medication is most commonly stored in solution in a pressurized cansiter. The canister is attached to a plastic, hand-operated pump. When pumped, a certain dose of medicine is released in aerosol form. The operator puts the release end of the pump into his or her mouth, and depresses the canister to release the medicine, while simultaneously inhaling deeply. The aerosolized medicine is drawn into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the bronchial walls. Aerosol spray can Aerosol spray is the name given to a type of canister containing liquid under pressure from pressurized vapor in equilibrium with another liquid, which often also dissolves the payload (see propellant below). ... A bronchus (plural bronchi, adjective bronchial) is a caliber of airway in the respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs. ...

An aerosol Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI)

A young girl with asthma using an inhaler.

The co-ordination between activating the inhaler and breathing in is critical for effective delivery of the drug into the lungs. This can be difficult in younger asthma sufferers or elderly people with arthritis of their hands, or those with a poor ability to hold their breath for 10 seconds after using an inhaler (again generally the elderly). Some breath-activated inhalers do not require manual activation, but will automatically sense the patient breathing in and deliver the dose. Alternatively a device called an Asthma spacer may be used which is an enclosed plastic cylinder that mixes the medication with air in a simple tube, making it easier for patients to receive a full dose of the drug (see image on right). Download high resolution version (885x1038, 174 KB)An asthma inhaler Taken by Raul654 on December 27, 2004. ... Download high resolution version (885x1038, 174 KB)An asthma inhaler Taken by Raul654 on December 27, 2004. ... Image File history File links Inhaler_girl. ... Image File history File links Inhaler_girl. ... Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation) is a group of conditions that affect the health of the bone joints in the body. ... An asthma spacer is a device used by an asthmatic person to increase the effectiveness of an asthma inhaler. ...

A different approach to aerosol-inhalers is the use of finely divided powdered devices. These require a priming proceedure to place a standardised amount (dose) of powder ready for the patient to take. The operator puts the release end of the inhaler into his mouth and takes a deep inhalation, holding their breath for 10 seconds. There are a variety of such devices which some patients find easier to use, but others complain that powder-devices provokes them to cough. Powder is a substance that has been crushed into very fine grains. ...

See also

• metered dose inhaler