Top 10 tips for choosing a nebulizer for your home

Who is the best home nebulizer manufacturer?
Vote!

Omron

little doctor

B. Well

AND

Flaem Nuova

Philips

MED

Medisana

Microlife

Beurer

Total voted: 0

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The first step in buying an inhaler is choosing the right type. In total there are 3 types of nebulizers for home use:

Compressor nebulizers are considered the most popular. They are easy to use, safe and have a simple principle of operation.The aerosol is formed due to the air that enters the medicine chamber with the help of a compressor. The main advantage of this type is its compatibility with a large number of drugs, including antibiotics and hormonal pills. Most often it is used in the treatment of cough, runny nose, laryngitis, pneumonia, as well as chronic respiratory diseases.

Of course, compressor nebulizers have several disadvantages. First, they are noisy in operation. If for an adult this parameter does not really matter, then for a small child it often causes fear of inhalation. Also, such devices are only suitable for home use due to the fact that they are overall and require a network connection.

Ultrasonic nebulizers They work on the principle of spraying drugs under the influence of ultrasonic waves. They are used to treat serious diseases of the respiratory system, such as bronchitis or asthma, as well as respiratory diseases. Ultrasonic devices are very quiet, compact and perfect for a child. The only negative is that they can be combined with a limited number of drugs.

Mesh inhalers spray drugs using a special fine-mesh membrane. They have a high nebulization rate, and the particle diameter is very small, so that the drug reaches the distant parts of the respiratory system. They are often prescribed for allergy sufferers and asthmatics due to their compact size, battery life and high degree of effectiveness. However, these inhalers are more expensive than other types.

In the characteristics for each nebulizer, the size of the aerosol particles is always prescribed.As a rule, it is specified as an average range from the minimum to the maximum size in micrometers. This is a key parameter on which the effectiveness of the inhaler depends. Each size is suitable for the treatment of different ailments. The smaller it is, the deeper and farther the medicine can penetrate into the respiratory tract. It is believed that an aerosol with a particle diameter 0.5-2 µm able to enter the alveoli 2-5 µm - into the lower respiratory tract, and the largest particles in size 5-10 µm reach the larynx and nasopharynx.

In some models of nebulizers, the average particle size penetrates simultaneously into all areas of the respiratory system. On the one hand, such devices are universal. They are suitable for the treatment and prevention of any disease. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the treatment of a particular ailment decreases, due to the fact that there is no concentration of particles in a certain area. The most progressive and convenient models are those that provide particle size switch. Of course, their cost is more expensive, but this option justifies the higher price tag.

All nebulizers have a maximum dose of medication that can be used in one session. Its quantity can be seen in the characteristic "Capacity of the drug reservoir". Moreover, in different models, it varies in the range 4 to 15 ml drug.This parameter must be taken into account when buying an inhaler for the home.

Usually the dosage is prescribed by the doctor for one procedure. The capacity of the drug reservoir indicated in the specifications for the nebulizer should not be less, but preferably more than the dosage prescribed for you. But there is one difficulty here. Dosages for different medications can vary greatly. And buying a nebulizer for one medication is not very profitable. Therefore, it is better to give preference to models with a maximum tank capacity: 10 to 15 ml. As a rule, these are compressor or ultrasonic nebulizers. In mesh inhalers, due to their small size, the reservoir volume does not exceed 8 ml.

When buying an inhaler for the whole family, the question arises: what is the difference between an adult nebulizer and a children's nebulizer? What parameters need to be taken into account so that it can be applied to a child? In fact, there are several nuances that need to be taken into account if a child uses a nebulizer.

Design. For very young children, it is best to choose an inhaler with a bright design. For example, it can be made in the form of a toy or have stickers with cartoon characters included.

Equipment. If you plan to use the inhaler for the whole family, then the kit for it should be as complete as possible. Masks for children and adults must be available. If the nebulizer is also bought for a baby, then there should be a separate nozzle for babies for it.

Noise level. If the child is less than 4-5 years old, then the loud work of the nebulizer can scare him. Therefore, for the smallest, it is better to choose ultrasonic or mesh inhalers. They are much quieter than compressor options.And they can be used in any position, as well as during sleep.

Time of continuous operation is a parameter that sellers often speculate when selling nebulizers. On the one hand, the longer the device is able to work, the more powerful it is. On the other hand, high performance is usually reserved for hospitals. But at home it turns out to be useless. There is no point in overpaying for an inhaler that can work continuously for 50 hours if it is used at home. Even if you buy a device for several people, 60 minutes of continuous work will be quite enough. And if the nebulizer is purchased for a child, then you can reduce the time up to 30-40 minutes. 

Typically, the inhalation procedure lasts from 5 to 20 minutes. The duration of the procedure is affected by the speed of particle spraying. The higher it is, the faster the inhalation will pass. For an adult, the duration of the procedure does not play a particularly important role. Speeds at 2-5 ml/min, presented in models from the budget and middle segments is enough. Depending on the drug, the duration of the procedure with this parameter will take about 20 minutes.

But the situation completely changes when a nebulizer is bought for a child. In this case, the spraying speed becomes an important criterion, which is really worth paying extra for. As a rule, young children are not able to sit with an inhaler for more than 10 minutes. For infants, it is recommended to reduce the treatment time to 5 minutes. Therefore, the speed sufficient for adults is no longer enough. For a child, it is best to choose an inhaler with a spray rate up to 1 ml/min. Then the inhalation time will take no more than 10 minutes.

With regular use of a nebulizer, the question arises of how economically it consumes medicines. You can choose a cheap model, which in the future will lead you to high expenses for medicines. It is much more practical to buy a more expensive, but economical inhaler. You can find out how profitable a nebulizer is in operation by two parameters.

Residual volume of drugs - this is the part of the medication that is not converted into an aerosol, but simply remains in the device. The smaller its value, the more profitable the consumption of the drug. Compressor and ultrasonic nebulizers have a residual volume of drugs due to their design features. In mesh inhalers, it is either very small or absent. Therefore, they are considered the most economical in operation.

The second parameter concerns the principle of operation of the nebulizer chamber. It is of three types. A conventional or convection chamber continuously supplies an aerosol, due to which some of the drugs simply evaporate. A chamber with an inhalation key allows you to interrupt the aerosol supply during exhalation. Finally, the breath-activated chamber automatically delivers the aerosol on inspiration and pauses on exhalation. This type of drug is very economical. Therefore, it makes sense to overpay a little for it.

Not the last role in the cost of the nebulizer is the presence of additional functions. We list those that are really useful for inhalation:

Particle size controller. This option allows you to select the desired particle size for the treatment of various diseases. If the nebulizer has this function, then it can be effectively used for inhalation of all areas of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

Breath-activated camera. This feature allows you to use medicines sparingly. When you inhale, the aerosol automatically enters the respiratory tract, and when you exhale, the supply of the drug stops. Thus, the medicine is consumed completely for its intended purpose, without loss.

Timer. This option is quite rare. But in general, it will be useful, especially if the nebulizer is bought for a child.

Possibility of boiling the spray chamber. This is not a feature, but rather a useful setting that greatly simplifies the care of the nebulizer. For safety, it must be regularly washed and cleaned of contaminants. Hot water makes this much easier and faster.

Today there are 5-6 leading manufacturers on the nebulizer market. The Japanese company Omron has become the clear leader in the production of expensive nebulizers. In the budget and middle segments, the main competitors are B.Well, MED, AND, Little Doctor. They produce models of all types with a price tag of 2000 to 4500 rubles.

Omron was founded in 1933 and today is considered a global manufacturer of medical equipment.It is this company that produces the largest range of nebulizers for adults, children and babies. Models of this brand are well-assembled, easy to use and meet all the criteria for effective medical equipment for the home. However, this manufacturer does not have budget nebulizers.

Swiss firm B. Well is a worthy competitor to Omron. It produces compressor, steam and mesh inhalers. In its assortment there are many models for children and babies. Most nebulizers have a 5-year branded warranty, good equipment and decent build quality. Models for children are often made in a bright game design. But still the main trump card of the company is democratic prices.

Japanese firm AND specializes in the production of compressor, ultrasonic and mesh nebulizers. If you need a very quiet device, then you should take a closer look at the inhalers from this manufacturer. Most models have good technical performance, decent equipment, economical consumption of medicines and additional functions.

Producers deserve special attention. Flaem Nuova, Little Doctor and Philips. They do not have such a large range of inhalers as the leading manufacturers. However, these brands have very high-quality models that have received many positive reviews from users.

The ability to use a nebulizer for the whole family is associated not only with its technical characteristics, but also with the completeness of the package. When buying an inhaler, we recommend that you pay attention to the presence of the following items in the kit:

Masks. An ideal option when the nebulizer is equipped with three types of masks at once: for adults, children and infants. Then the device is universal and suitable for users of any age. But in the kit of most models, an adult and a children's mask are provided. This is also a good option.

Nozzles. A big plus will be the presence in the kit of separate nozzles for the nose and mouth. They will allow you to diversify the functionality of the inhaler. For some symptoms or diseases, mouthpieces and nosepieces are considered a more effective accessory than masks.

A set of filters. They are designed to clean the incoming air. The more filters included, the better.

Carrying bag or case. A very convenient accessory in which you can fold parts and transport the device. In addition to it, the presence of a holder for a nebulizer chamber will be a big advantage.