How does an inhaler work?

May 25, 2022

Inhalers are medications that you breathe into your lungs to relax the muscles that tighten around your airways. The medication helps open up your airways and allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs, helping you breathe more easily.

People with asthma use inhalers during attacks when their airways become swollen and narrow. These attacks cause a person to cough, wheeze, and have difficulty breathing. Almost everyone with asthma will use a bronchodilator to open their airways. Others may use them at some point in their life if they have been diagnosed with a persistent cough, COPD, bronchitis, etc.

Different types of inhalers

There are three main types of inhalers that deliver medication.

The most common is a metered dose inhaler (or MDI), which uses pressure to force the medication out of the inhaler. Nebulizers use air or oxygen and deliver the medication through a tube or mask that fits over your nose and mouth. Dry powder inhalers (or DPIs) deliver the medication, but they require you to inhale forcefully and quickly.

Short-acting bronchodilators are used as "quick-relief," "reliever," or "rescue" inhalers. These bronchodilators open the airways and help to quickly stop or relieve acute asthma attacks. While they are best known for working on sudden attacks, they are also great to take before exercise to help control your asthma during exercise.

While many people use short-acting bronchodilators, overuse of an inhaler, tablet, or liquid/nebulizer is a sign of uncontrolled asthma that needs better treatment . If you are using short-acting bronchodilators more than twice a week, call Charleston Allergy & Asthma to improve your asthma control.

Long-acting bronchodilators provide asthma control, not quick relief. Your board-certified allergist will prescribe the medication, which is usually taken twice daily along with inhaled steroids for long-term symptom control.

Unlike short-acting inhalers, long-acting inhalers do not directly affect muscle inflammation. Instead, they help the airways relax, allowing more air to pass through.