Will An Inhaler Help With Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a common condition that worries a large population every year; if you think it might be something concerning, you read more below.

Depending on your symptoms, inhalers could prove incredibly beneficial in helping you recover from your condition.

By reading the following paragraphs, you will get the answer you have been looking for!

Knowing bronchitis

Common causes of bronchitis

• Depending on the onset of your symptoms, bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Acute can be defined as symptoms affecting you in less than two weeks, while chronic is usually longer than three months.¹ It is important to differentiate the two as the cause and the treatment can differ wildly. As a general definition, bronchitis can be identified as inflammation of the large lung airways (the bronchi) that leads to irritation causing the symptoms you may be experiencing
• Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viral agents, such as syncytial, influenza, and parainfluenza viruses. These are viruses commonly seen in the colder months ranging from the beginning of Autumn to the end of Winter. The likelihood of the inflammation being caused by bacteria is low. Some other factors that can worsen your symptoms and lead to more severe bronchitis include irritants such as cigarette smoke and allergens like pollen, even though the evidence to back this up is scarce²
• On the other hand, there is a very strong relationship between air pollutants and cigarette smoke with chronic bronchitis. In addition, it seems to be secondary to a disease called “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease” (COPD)³

What are the signs and symptoms of bronchitis

It is common for people with acute bronchitis to experience symptoms such as a chesty cough, difficulty breathing, and a lack of breath, as well as a general feeling of tiredness. Acute bronchitis is generally self-limiting, meaning it can pass on its own, and most of the treatment required is just to help your body do its best to ensure it passes. Chronic bronchitis symptoms can be a productive, persistent cough that you see as a productive, persistent cough that you cannot seeshake. A productive cough includes the production of phlegm or sputum, which comes in a wide array of colors (ranging from white all the way to yellow and green).

Complications

• The complications of bronchitis, be they acute or chronic, can be alarming. These range from an increase in symptoms to potentially life-threatening changes. You might feel like you are in respiratory distress for acute bronchitis, which can make breathing difficult. Some of the complications of chronic bronchitis might be more severe as the ability of the lung to function normally can decrease. This can put you at risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia. If this is the case, your symptoms might worsen and develop a fever⁴
• In addition, chronic bronchitis increases the risk of airflow obstruction, which can have fatal results. As scary as this sounds, these are long-term possibilities that can be discussed with your healthcare provider. Moreover, the risk of complications is directly linked to lifestyle choices, such as exercise levels and whether you smoke or not. It is also linked to how quickly you receive treatment making it very important to know when it is time to call your doctor

When to seek medical attention

It can be quite difficult to know when it is time to seek a doctor. Hopefully, this will help! When looking at your symptoms, be it a cough, production of sputum, or lack of breath, you should ask yourself: how long has it been going on, and is it is getting better with time? If the answers to your questions are that it's been a few days and you are coughing less with time, then it’s probably okay for you to sit tight at home and maybe even use a few homeopathic remedies.⁵ Some natural ingredients that you can use to help with your symptoms include hot teas and additives like ginger, lemon, and honey, which can speed the road to recovery.

If things continue to worsen or nothing seems to help, it might be time to seek medical attention. Initially, it is recommended to call 111 and have a conversation with a medical specialist about whether or not you need to make the trip to your local healthcare provider. Do not hesitate to go to the emergency services if you struggle breathing. As a good rule of thumb, the severity of your symptoms dictates whether you can overcome this condition on your own or whether you might need more of a helping hand.

Understanding inhaler

How does it function

• The concept of inhalers has been used as a method of giving medications since 1929, even though modern-day inhalers look slightly different. There are now 3 different types of inhalers: the metered dose inhaler (MDI), the dry powder inhaler (DPI), and the nebulizer.⁶ These types of inhalers work differently, but all have a similar function

Types of air purifier

• Metered dose inhalers (MDI)

This is the most common type of inhaler that you will encounter. The design consists of 5 essential components.⁷ The actuator is the part of the inhaler that allows mechanisms to work, such as opening valves. The propellant, as the word suggests, pushes things forwards. The formulation refers to the actual medicine that is used to treat your condition. Lastly, the metering valve is designed to regulate the pressure at which the drug is released.

• Dry powder inhaler (DPI)

This inhaler uses a dry formulation of the medication. There are 2 types, those that contain the drug in a capsule or the drug on its own.⁸ The main difference between DPI and MDI is that the dry formulation does not use an ozone-based propellant, making it more environmentally friendly. However, the lack of propellant means that the inhaler is initialized with the patient’s breath, making it not ideal for patients struggling to breathe, such as asthmatic patients. 

• Nebulizers

Nebulizers are the oldest type of inhaler but are still very relevant. They work by giving the dose of the medicine in an aqueous form (i.e., in water), and it is then via evaporation given to the patient. Hence as you breathe in the steam, you take in the medication.⁹ An example of an age-old type of nebulization is putting your head over a hot water bowl with a towel over your head and breathing in the steam. However, with modern nebulizers, all that is done via a machine that contains an easy to use mouthpiece. 

Benefits of inhaler to our health

• The main benefit of inhalers is delivering the drug to one organ system, as through inhalation, the medicine can only go to one location: the lungs. This is incredibly helpful as it means that the concentration of drug that enters the lung is maximized, meaning that lower doses of drugs can be used. Not only does this mean that the affected organ is treated effectively it also means that the side effects you may encounter from the medication are reduced

How inhaler helps people with bronchitis

Inhalers are a great way to get drugs to the lungs. The main 2 classes of drugs include Beta-2- agonists and steroids. Beta 2 agonists work to activate beta 2 receptors; these can be found in the lungs and cause the bronchi to dilate or expand. This makes it easier for air to flow through them, reducing symptoms of coughing. However, studies have shown them only to be useful when there is a degree of airway restriction.¹⁰ An example of a common beta-2 is Ventolin (AKA salbutamol). Within the beta-2 agonist group, there are long and short-acting agonists, and the difference between the 2 is how long they can prevent a coughing fit for. This is dependent on whether you have acute or chronic bronchitis. Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the active irritation to your bronchi. Sometimes antibiotics can also be given via inhalers, but as stated previously, most bronchitis is not caused by bacteria, so they might not be necessary! Inhalation of steam also increases mucociliary function, which is often reduced in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Choosing the best inhaler for people with bronchitis

The need for an inhaler depends on your symptoms.  you have symptoms such as shortness of breath or asthmatic attacks, the DPI might not be the best inhaler for you, meaning that the MDI or the nebulizer might be better suited. For the drugs used in the inhaler, the most common combination of drugs is beta-2 agonists and corticosteroids, which will be beneficial if you have coughing symptoms.¹¹

If you have acute symptoms, it might be more useful to use a short-acting beta-2 agonist and vice versa for a long one. In addition, you can always use warm vapors as a makeshift inhaler to help deal with mild symptoms at home as they reduce coughing. 

Summary

Bronchitis is a common disease that can be particularly relevant in the colder months. Your symptoms may vary but usually include chesty coughs, lack of breath, and a generalized feeling of discomfort. It is important to contact your healthcare provider when your symptoms go on for an extended period or worsen. Your doctor may prescribe an inhaler which could include beta-2 agonists, corticosteroids, or antibiotics.