What Are The Different Types Of Delivery Devices For Asthma Medicines
You take most asthma medicines by breathing them in using an inhaler or nebulizer. An inhaler or nebulizer allows the medicine to go directly to your lungs. But some asthma medicines are in pill form, infusion form, or injectable form.;
Inhalers ;
There are four types of asthma inhaler devices that deliver medicine: metered dose inhalers , dry powder inhalers , breath actuated inhalers, and soft mist inhalers.
- Metered dose inhalers have medicine plus a propellant. The propellant sprays the medicine out of the inhaler in a short burst.
- Dry powder inhalers do not have a propellant and do not spray the medicine out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
- Breath actuated inhalers have a dry powder or aerosol medicine. The medicine does not spray out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
- Soft mist inhalers do not have propellant, but they do spray the medicine out of the inhaler. They create a cloud of medicine that sprays out softly.
Different types of asthma devices
For inhalers to work well, you must use them correctly. But 70 to 90% of people who use inhalers make at least one mistake when using their inhaler.1 Inhaler mistakes can lead to uncontrolled asthma. Ask your doctor or nurse to watch you use your inhaler to make sure you are using it correctly.;
Spacers;and valved holding;chambers
Nebulizers;
Injectables ;
Common Reasons To See An Allergist/ Immunologist Include:
- And more
Putting it all together
Allergists/immunologists and ENTs often work together to maximize control of nasal/sinus congestion and its entirely possible you may require evaluation from both specialists. Allergists will often refer patients to ENTs when surgery is needed and ENTs often refer patients to allergists when a formal allergy assessment is required.
Allergies are not the only cause of nasal symptoms. So if you have a known structural problem or suspect one, then an ENT specialist would be a good first choice. ;But if you suspect that you have a sinus or breathing issues related to allergies or asthma, consider seeing a Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist who can help diagnose, treat, and effectively control your symptoms through non-surgical methods.
What Do They Do
Allergist/immunologists perform a wide range of tests and procedures to identify and treat immune conditions.
Clinical allergist/immunologists work with patients directly. During the initial visit, an allergist/immunologist will review the personâs medical history. They may ask questions regarding a personâs:
- current symptoms
- previous treatments and their effects
- family medical history
- exposure to environmental toxins
After gathering enough background information, an allergist/immunologist might recommend one or more tests to help them diagnose the underlying immune condition. They may use:
- Patch tests, which can help identify specific substances that cause allergic skin reactions.
- Skin prick tests to identify specific immediate allergies to environmental and food triggers.
- Antibody tests to measure the levels of antibodies present in the blood. Allergist/immunologists use these tests when they diagnose immunodeficiency conditions and allergies.
- T cell tests, which measure the number of specialized immune cells, called T cells, in the blood. Allergist/Immunologists also use this test to evaluate a personâs T cell activity.
Once an allergist/immunologist diagnoses an underlying condition, they can plan the best course of action. Treatments for allergic and immune diseases vary and can include:
Allergist/immunologists can also educate people about their condition and provide valuable lifestyle and dietary tips to help them manage their symptoms.
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Will I Have To Take Medicine All The Time
Maybe not. Asthma is a chronic condition that is controllable. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma. For that reason, you may have asthma symptoms when exposed to triggers. This is the case even if you dont have symptoms very often. Your triggers can change over time, and your treatment will depend on two things: how severe your asthma is, and how often you have symptoms. If your asthma is controlled, your treatment will focus on managing symptoms and treatment of episodes when they happen.;
If your symptoms happen at certain times and you know what caused them, you and your doctor can use this information to determine the best treatment. If, for example, you have seasonal asthma because of a specific pollen allergy, you may take medicines only when that pollen is in the air. But asthma that specific is not common. Many people with asthma take some form of medicine most or all of the time.;
Can All Sinus Issues Be Treated With Non
No. Some patients have a structural problem within their nose or sinuses that cannot be adequately treated with medications or allergen avoidance measures. In these cases, Allergists will refer the patient to their surgical colleagues, ENTs , who treat a variety of anatomical ailments affecting the head and neck.
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How Long Will You Be Under The Care Of A Specialist Centre
If youve been told you need to stay under the care of the specialist asthma centre this is usually because you have severe asthma.;If youve had an asthma attack that meant you needed intensive care, your specialist consultants may recommend that you benefit from specialist asthma care indefinitely.
There may be a time when your specialist team feels you can manage your asthma well under the care of a consultant in your local hospital, instead of at the specialist asthma centre, or with support from your GP.
This is likely to be because:;
- it looks as if your asthma symptoms can be managed by making sure you follow an updated asthma action plan and take your prescribed asthma medicines regularly
- youre managing another condition better so it’s not impacting on your asthma so much.;
- youve identified specific asthma triggers that you can avoid.
Next review due January 2023
When Should I See A Pulmonary Specialist
Generally speaking, if you are having trouble managing a respiratory condition, disease or disorder or its symptoms, even with the treatment of a primary care doctor, it is time to see a pulmonary specialist. This could include asthma that is difficult to control, a complex case of COPD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary embolism and more.;
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Managing And Controlling Your Asthma
Asthma is defined as a chronic condition, which means that you need to continuously monitor and manage your asthma throughout your lifetime. While there is currently no cure for asthma, with proper treatmentand management you can effectively control your asthma and live symptom-free.
Asthma treatment is successful if you learn all you can about your asthma including: symptoms,triggers,medications and ongoing asthma management to achieve control. You and you alone know how you feel and how your asthma is affecting you and you need to be responsible for acting when your asthma is not in good control.
Many people with asthma believe that their asthma is controlled but in fact, surveys have shown that most people accept levels of asthma control that fall far short of the standards described in the Canadian Consensus Asthma Guidelines. In order to control your asthma it is very important that you actually understand what good asthma control means.
Friends Family And Co
One of the best ways to learn about helpful and reliable asthma doctors is through personal recommendations from people you know and trust; not only are they more likely to be located in the area in which you live, but you can also approach them with the confidence of someone whose parent, friend or colleague received beneficial care and treatment with that doctor. You can ask around your social and family circles for advice, but also be prepared with several criteria to specify what you are looking for: for example, let people know that you want a doctor who specializes in working with kids, for example.
So what goes into knowing how to find a doctor for your asthma? First, there are some factors that you need to consider.
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Who Develops Asthma Or Allergies
Asthma and allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic factors. While its true that asthma and allergies are more common in children, they can occur for the first time at any age. Sometimes allergy symptoms start in childhood, disappear for many years and then start up again during adult life.
Although the exact genetic factors are not yet understood, there is a hereditary tendency to asthma and allergies. In susceptible people, factors such as hormones, stress, smoke, perfume or other environmental irritants also may play a role.
I wonder how many other people out there are going about their lives, maybe even pushing themselves like I was, unaware that they have asthma or another respiratory condition.
Brooke C.
The Role Of The Pulmonologist In Copd
Seeing a pulmonologist may be necessary if you have a more complicated case of COPD. For example, your primary care provider may refer you to a pulmonologist if youre not responding well to COPD treatment, youre hospitalized for COPD exacerbation or your disease has reached a more advanced stage of COPD.
A pulmonologist may order a different combination of medications or special treatments for you. To better-assess your condition or implement diagnostic studies, they can also perform a bronchoscopy using a flexible scope to look down your airway and inside your lungs. A pulmonologist may also have a staff that is very much geared for the lung patient that a primary care provider may not have or be able to afford in their office. A pulmonologist may also be used to reinforce what the primary care provider has already initiated, especially the importance of smoking cessation in a patient who continues to smoke.
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Is A Pulmonologist Or Asthma Specialist Right For Me
If you are finding that your asthma isn’t being adequately controlled with the help of your primary care doctor, you should consider being referred to an asthma specialist or pulmonologist. If you are needing to use your rescue inhaler more than twice a week, or are needing more than one or two courses of oral steroids in a year, a Pulmonologist or asthma specialist may be beneficial for you. For people with allergy-driven asthma, an allergist is the way to go. They’re the experts on how to help you gain control over your allergies that set off your asthma.
If the asthma diagnosis is in question or not determined completely yet, a Pulmonologist has the tools and capabilities for complete lung function testing and other tests that can better confirm or rule out asthma.
I am a firm believer that most asthmatics should be followed by a specialist. There are many amazing primary/general practitioner doctors out there that are equipped to handle mild intermittent asthma; however, in my opinion, an asthma specialist or Pulmonologist is a better choice. I was followed by my primary care doctor for many years until my asthma started being more bothersome and my doctor referred me to a Pulmonologist.
Both specialists are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. If your asthma is classified as more than mild intermittent, I would highly recommend being referred to a specialist.
Why Haven’t I Been Referred
If you meet the criteria for a referral to a specialist yet your PCP hasn’t referred you, it could be due to many reasons.
- Your PCP doesn’t think they need help managing your/your child’s asthma. Sometimes doctors don’t know when to ask for help and may need a nudge from you. If you want a referral to an asthma specialist, ask for it.
- The healthcare system may be getting in the way. Your area may not have the appropriate asthma specialists available, or you or your doctor may be trying to keep your healthcare costs low.
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Asthma Specialist Career Outlook
The career outlook of doctors and surgeons, the broader occupational category where asthma specialists belong to, is set to be very bright for the next few years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the employment rate is set to rise 18 percent, a rate that is faster than the average for all job types. The demand will come from the growth of the elderly population who will require more medical care as well as the continued expansion of the industries related to healthcare. More job opportunities await those who are willing to practice in rural and low-income communities.
What Is The Difference Between An Allergist And A Pulmonologist
An allergist treats asthma patients whose primary triggers are environmental, suffering from what is known as allergic asthma. On the other hand, a pulmonologist specializes in lung disease and often treats more severe asthma cases triggered by stress, exercise, etc.
Typically, you will see a pulmonologist if you are involved in an emergency asthma situation and go to the hospital. Oftentimes, after a pulmonologist treats you, they will refer you to an allergist and work collaboratively to identify asthma triggers.
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Family Practice Physician Or Internist
A family practice physician or internist is the first person that you should turn to if you are experiencing asthma-like symptoms but dont yet have a diagnosis. Thats because he or she will be able to recognize the signs and help you receive preliminary treatment while referring you to someone more specialized if further help is necessary. Most asthma can be managed by a family physician or other primary care physician such as an internist.
What Are Specialist Asthma Centres
For a centre to be called a specialist asthma centre it needs to have access to all the specialists and tests needed, and to be led by at least two consultant respiratory physicians with a specific interest in severe asthma.
If youve been referred to a specialist asthma centre its because your GP or local hospital consultant believes you need more focused attention from a team of respiratory experts. This is to help you get on top of your asthma symptoms, reduce your risk of asthma attacks and improve your quality of life.
At a specialist asthma centre youll benefit from the full range of asthma tests, and be assessed for specialist treatments tailored to your specific type of asthma.
Specialist asthma centres are known as tertiary centres and are described as offering tertiary care. Tertiary care is the third level of care, after primary and secondary care.
- Most people with asthma manage their asthma well in primary care,;with support from their GP or asthma nurse at the local GP surgery.
- Some people who are not managing their asthma well are referred to a respiratory specialist based in a hospital. This is secondary care.
- A few go on to be referred to specialist asthma care centres for extra support in getting on top of their asthma symptoms. This is tertiary care.
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How Do I Know If I Need To See The Allergist Or Ent
ENTs are highly proficient surgeons who specialize in structural disorders of the ears, nose, and throat such as head and neck tumors, facial reconstruction and plastic surgery, chronic sinusitis, deviated septum, hearing impairment, and dizziness/balance problems. Board-certified Allergists optimize control of nasal and sinus problems though nonsurgical means. ENTs and Allergists commonly work together to treat conditions where allergies are causing problems in the ears, nose, sinuses and throat regions. ENTs often refer patients to Allergists when surgery is not indicated. Likewise, Allergists will refer patients to ENTs for surgical options when medications and allergen avoidance are not adequately controlling symptoms.
How Much Time Will I Get At The Specialist Asthma Centre
When youre first referred to a specialist asthma centre you may be offered appointments across one or two days.
Here’s what might happen over a typical two-day appointment:;
- The first day will probably be all about reviewing your asthma, in detail, right from the start. This may make you feel like youre repeating yourself, but it’s an important first step, and will give the specialist consultants useful information about your asthma. You may be offered blood tests to check youre taking your medicines in the right way, and skin prick tests to confirm any allergies.
- On the second day you may be reviewed by a team of respiratory specialists which could include physiotherapists, and health psychologists. You may be offered more tests, such as a measurement of your airway inflammation.
You can make the most of your appointment by making sure youre fully prepared and are ready to talk about your asthma in detail.;
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Choosing An Asthma Specialist: Points To Consider
When considering an asthma specialist, you should think about which types of asthma specialists have the skills and experience that best fits your needs, including your age, type of asthma, and medical history.
In some cases, you may need more than one specialist to manage your asthma. For example, if trigger your childs asthma symptoms, you may want your child to see a pediatrician and an .
What Do Respiratory Specialists Do
Respiratory specialists are health care professionals who focus on providing care to people with pulmonary conditions. Both doctors and nurses can work as these types of specialists, as can technicians who are trained to perform certain types of procedures, including diagnostic tests used to collect information about respiratory conditions. In order to work as a respiratory specialist, it is usually necessary to complete basic medical training, followed by advanced training in the management of pulmonary conditions.
Many hospitals retain respiratory specialists on their staff to assist patients who are experiencing respiratory problems. Respiratory complications are common among patients in intensive care and patients with certain chronic conditions. Hospitalization can exacerbate respiratory problems as patients feel stressed, and a respiratory specialist can be part of the care team working to keep the patient as healthy as possible. If a patient is hospitalized specifically for a respiratory complaint such as asthma, the specialist may be the lead doctor on the patients team.
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