If you're an asthma sufferer and regularly use an inhaler, there's a good chance that you've been administering your own medication incorrectly.
A culmination of previous research has surfaced and was put together in a report by the British Lung Foundation that states up to 90% of asthma sufferers all over the world have poor inhaler technique. In other words, only 5% of the medicine is actually reaching the lungs of an asthma sufferer when they puff on an inhaler. Another study states that only one in 10 COPD sufferers perform the essential steps for using their inhaler properly.
These problems stem from miscommunication by doctors or from not receiving a physical, in-office demonstration of how to use an inhaler.
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A spokeswoman for the Foundation said, 'With so many different inhalers available and administered […] it can be difficult for people to remember the best way to take the medication they have been given. Each device requires a different technique on how to use it, so it's no wonder a high number of people don't take their medication correctly.'
Yes, each inhaler has a different technique. So, for an asthma sufferer with more than one type, they may need to adjust their technique every day.
Doctors recommend that during your annual checkup, make sure that you're self-administering your medication correctly.
Joseph Carter, the head of the British Lung Foundation in Wales, recommended, 'Go over things such as inhaler technique and any other concerns you have about your condition. If you are struggling to take your inhaler correctly, ask your doctor if you can alter the type of inhaler you have, or ask if you can have a support aid to help you. A lot of people, including adults, use spacer devices to help them get the most out of their medication.'
In the UK, there are more than 5.4 million asthma sufferers. If you're one of them, contact your doctor to make sure you're correctly receiving the medication you need.
(via Woman's Day)
