Inhaler Technique

Most people use their inhaler wrong. Are you one of them?

Let's fix that, so the medicine actually reaches your lungs.

Here's the thing most people never hear. Studies suggest that up to nine in ten people make at least one mistake with their inhaler. And when the technique is off, the medicine sprays onto your tongue or the back of your throat, instead of going deep into your lungs where it's needed. The good news? A few small fixes can change that. So let's walk through it, step by step.

First, know this. There are two kinds of inhalers, and two different techniques. We'll start with the press kind.

The press kind is called a metered-dose inhaler. Here are its five steps. Step one. Shake it well, for about five seconds. Between uses, the medicine settles inside the canister. A good shake mixes it back up. That way, each puff gives you a full, even dose. Skip the shake, and the first puffs can come out weak.

Step two. Before you use it, breathe out fully. Empty your lungs as much as you comfortably can. This makes room for the medicine to flow deep inside on your next breath. One important note. Breathe out into the air, off to the side, not into the inhaler. Breathing into the device can mess up the dose.

Step three is the big one. Seal, press, and breathe in slow. Put the mouthpiece between your lips and seal them tight, so no air leaks out the sides. As you start to breathe in, press the canister once. Then keep breathing in, slow and deep, for three to five seconds. Slow is the secret. If you breathe in too fast, the spray slams into your throat instead of reaching your lungs.

Step four. Hold your breath. After you breathe in, hold it for about ten seconds, or as long as is comfortable for you. This gives the medicine time to settle deep in your lungs, instead of drifting right back out. Then breathe out, slow and gentle.

Step five. If your doctor told you to take a second puff, wait first. About one minute between puffs. The first puff helps open the airways a little, so the second one can travel in even better. And that's the full press-inhaler routine.

Here's a helpful tip. A spacer is a tube that clips onto your inhaler. It holds the medicine in a little cloud, so it's easier to breathe in slowly. It's especially helpful with steroid inhalers.

Now, the other kind, the dry-powder inhaler. This one works differently, so watch closely. You don't press it. It releases the powder when you breathe in. And here's the twist. With dry powder, you breathe in fast, not slow.

So here are the dry-powder steps. First, load the dose. Depending on your inhaler, you click, twist, or slide it. Next, breathe out, away from the inhaler. Then seal your lips around it and breathe in fast and deep, in one strong breath. Hold for about ten seconds, like before. And one big don't. Never breathe out into a dry-powder inhaler. Your breath is damp, and it can clump the powder.

Know your inhalers. A rescue inhaler is for quick relief when symptoms hit. A daily inhaler is taken every day to help prevent symptoms.

One more important habit. Used a steroid inhaler? Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. This helps prevent thrush, a mouth infection that steroids can cause.

So here's your challenge. At your next visit, take your inhaler with you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to watch you use it, and check your technique. It only takes a minute, and it's the best way to be sure you're doing it right. Better technique means more medicine in your lungs, and easier breathing.

So, quick check. Press inhaler, slow breath. Dry powder, fast breath. And both? Hold your breath about ten seconds.

Your inhaler is one tool. But what if you could breathe easier during everyday tasks, even without it? There are simple breathing exercises that help. We'll show you next.