Inhalation with a nebulizer for dry cough

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Features of cough treatment using inhalation. Secrets of success.

Without any doubt, and this has been proven by practical medicine, inhalation for the treatment of cough is the most gentle and safe, and most importantly, an effective method of treating inflammatory colds of the upper respiratory tract, which allows you to very quickly alleviate the patient’s condition.

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We always try to cure a cold with the help of pills, potions and injections, without thinking about the fact that they all have side effects and effects. Drug therapy is very effective and at the same time unsafe. If there are no complications, then it will always be more correct to start treating the disease with traditional methods, in particular, with the help of inhalations.

Before you continue reading: If you are looking for an effective method of getting rid of a runny nose, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis or colds, then be sure to look at this section of the site after reading this article. This information has helped so many people, we hope it will help you too! So, now back to the article.

Inhalation is a very ancient method that was used to treat allergic and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. At the first signs of the disease, the use of therapeutic inhalations can significantly shorten the painful period, facilitate sputum production, soften the pathological process, reduce the severity of cough and quickly approach full recovery.

Why are inhalations needed during a cough?

The term “inhalation” comes from the Italian word ihalo, which means “inhale.” This procedure can have a therapeutic or prophylactic effect, because inhalation does not require inhalation of medicinal substances. Remember what a positive and beneficial effect inhaling sea air or the healing aroma of a coniferous forest has on the body. This is a real natural or natural inhalation.

Colds that are accompanied by a dry hacking cough or, conversely, difficult to separate sputum, have different approaches to treatment. But the use of inhalations is almost always indicated, which can be carried out using old “old-fashioned” methods or using a modern inhalation device - a nebulizer. The method of inhalation for cough in both cases has common features, because it involves irrigation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract while the patient inhales vapors containing medications or medicinal extracts of medicinal herbs.

Medicinal solutions for inhalation for coughs are inhaled in a vapor state and immediately act on the inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, covering very large areas, from the larynx to the surface of the bronchioles. At the same time, some medications can penetrate the circulatory system, but this method has shown much greater effectiveness than oral administration of drugs using conventional potions, tinctures and tablets for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system.

What types of inhalations are used for coughs during a cold?

Inhalations can be divided into two more types - natural and artificial inhalation. The natural way is to inhale clean air filled with phytoncides, microelements and many other beneficial substances that are contained in the clean air of mountains, sea coasts, coniferous and deciduous forests. This type of inhalation is more therapeutic and prophylactic, because it has a mild effect on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, increases the overall tone of the body and immunity, helps fight chronic respiratory diseases, and has general strengthening properties.

The second type involves the use of inhalation drugs for coughs and specialized devices for inhalation administration of them into the upper respiratory tract. The artificial inhalation method can be used not only in physiotherapy rooms of clinics, but also in ordinary home conditions.

Several types of inhalations are used to treat inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. At home, the simplest method is steam inhalation during a cough. To do this, it is enough to add a medicine to boiling water, which, together with steam microparticles, enters the throat, larynx, trachea, etc.

Inhalations using oily solutions - essential oils - are often used. There is a method of dry inhalation, during which cough medicine is initially dissolved in water, and then the resulting inhalation solution is mixed with heated dry air. When such vapors are inhaled, the water evaporates quite quickly, so only particles of the dry drug enter the lungs. The third method is wet vapor inhalation, which is formed when the medicinal solution is converted into an aerosol, which is very similar to fog.

There is another type of therapeutic inhalation - aeroionoinhalation or aeroionotherapy, when positively or negatively charged air particles - water or air ions - are introduced into the body. The greatest positive effect from a medical point of view will come from inhaling negatively charged ions.

When treating cough in children, ultrasound inhalation is often used, which has a number of advantages. This technique is based on the “crushing” of medicinal inhalation solutions with ultrasound for further delivery of the smallest particles into the respiratory system. Such aerosols penetrate very deeply, but for this it is necessary to use special ultrasonic inhalers.

Depending on the temperature of the healing solutions used for inhalation treatment of cough, the following types are distinguished:

We will talk in more detail about the use of inhalation for coughs in children and adults, as well as how to use inhalations for coughs, and what medications to use for this, depending on whether there is sputum production or not.

Contraindications for the use of inhalation cough treatment

Almost all diseases of the respiratory system are accompanied by a cough - dry or wet. Cough is a protective reaction of the body aimed at removing foreign objects and large amounts of infected sputum from the lungs and bronchi. Although very often the cough takes on an annoying, dry character. In this case, it does not have a protective function, but is simply a consequence of irritation of the inflamed mucous membranes. Due to the fact that cough is one of the main symptoms of respiratory diseases, and treating cough with inhalation is a fairly popular method, let’s first figure out which diseases can be treated and which cannot using this effective method.

Under no circumstances should you resort to a therapeutic inhalation treatment method if the patient has:

  • increased body temperature more than 37.5° C;
  • nosebleeds, hemoptysis and tendency to bleed in general;
  • individual intolerance and allergy to the medicinal substance used in the inhalation solution for the treatment of cough;
  • severe diseases of the cardiovascular system - heart failure and stage III hypertension, conditions during and after myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke, cerebral atherosclerosis with cerebrovascular accidents;
  • severe diseases of the respiratory system - respiratory failure of the third degree, bullous emphysema, giant cavities, recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax.

Before carrying out inhalations, it is better to consult your doctor to clarify whether there are any contraindications for the use of inhalation treatment for dry and wet cough in each individual case.

In all other cases, the inhalation method is indicated for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Inhalations are indicated for coughs and for pregnant women; it is only necessary to use medications that are not prohibited for treatment during intrauterine development of the fetus. In addition to colds and inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory system, inhalations for allergic coughs, which are considered the main method of administering a medication, are popular and extremely effective.

As mentioned above, inhalations are used for coughs and in children, but the age limit is a limitation. It is recommended to use the inhalation method for children over 2 years of age, when the child is able to understand his actions and follow parental instructions.

What kind of cough should be treated with inhalations?

Listed above are diseases and conditions for which inhalation treatment is strictly contraindicated. Now let’s look at the list of diseases and the principles for which coughs are inhaled. Of course, first of all, this group of diseases includes acute respiratory diseases, chronic inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory tract, for example, bronchitis, chronic pharyngitis, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, etc.

Most often, inhalations are used for dry cough during acute laryngitis, which occurs against the background of ARVI and hypothermia and is accompanied by damage to the vocal cords, sore throat and dry hacking cough. In these cases, warm inhalation solutions are used, which should relieve swelling of the vocal cords and possible laryngeal stenosis with acute development of respiratory failure. We will tell you which inhalations for dry cough are most often used in the section “Inhalation treatment for dry cough.”

Acute tracheitis, acute laryngotracheitis, acute bronchitis, acute obstructive bronchitis, which are accompanied by both dry and wet cough, respond well to inhalation treatment. We will consider the basic methods and use of medications below in the section “Inhalation treatment for wet cough.” In the treatment of such diseases using inhalation in the presence of a wet cough, one strives to liquefy thick, difficult to separate sputum to facilitate its removal from the bronchi, reduce the inflammatory process and swelling in the mucous membrane in order to alleviate and relieve the severity of a severe debilitating cough.

The inhalation method has proven to be excellent for the treatment of acute and chronic ENT diseases - rhinitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, for example, frontal sinusitis and sinusitis. In such cases, inhalation of inhaled drugs through the nose is sometimes indicated to relieve swelling of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.

An indispensable method of administering drugs for inhalation for coughs of an allergic nature, for asthmatic bronchitis and bronchial asthma, to eliminate bronchospasm, expand the lumen of bronchioles and eliminate the allergic component in the pathological process. Inhalations for allergic cough are considered one of the main methods of treating such diseases.

Such a terrible disease as pneumonia is almost 100% accompanied by a severe cough with the release of a large amount of mucopurulent sputum and increasing swelling of the lower respiratory tract. When the body temperature is less than 37.5 ° C, inhalations are indicated to relieve a wet cough with the introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiseptics, enzymes, and herbal decoctions into the respiratory system. When the inhalation technique is carried out correctly, a strong cough subsides quite quickly, swelling is relieved and expectoration of sputum is facilitated.

Inhalations are indicated for wet coughs that occur during pulmonary syndrome of cystic fibrosis and against the background of fungal diseases of the respiratory tract.

In addition, inhalations are used to eliminate and relieve cough in tuberculosis, for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, in particular, coronary artery disease, hypertension, during the rehabilitation period after a myocardial infarction. Inhalations are also used to treat diseases of the nervous, endocrine and other systems, and if benefits from aromatherapy are expected, then to improve the mental state, blood and lymph circulation.

12 rules for effective inhalations to get rid of cough

The inhalation procedure is a very simple event, but it will be effective and useful only if certain simple rules for its implementation are followed. Otherwise, the patient runs the risk of turning inhalation into a painful and painful procedure that will bring harm and unexpected benefits, or at worst, will be ineffective.

Follow the following 12 rules, and drugs for inhaled cough treatment will have a positive effect:

1. You need to start inhalation an hour and a half after eating or performing serious physical activity.

2. Do not use the inhalation method if there are contraindications for it (see above).

3. Use only those medications for inhalation for cough that are prescribed by your doctor and follow the exact dosage of the drug and the concentration of the herbal decoction.

4. The duration of the inhalation procedure for coughing in children lasts 1-3 minutes and no more than 1-2 times a day. For adults, this time is 5-10 minutes with the number of inhalations up to 3 times a day.

5. After inhalation, it is not recommended to talk, eat, drink, and, especially, smoke for an hour.

6. When treating ENT diseases, inhale aerosols through the mouth and nose to increase the effect without unnecessary strain.

7. After inhaling a medicinal aerosol or another dose of steam inhalation, to relieve a cough, it is recommended to hold your breath for a couple of seconds, then exhale as much air as possible.

8. Clothing and body position during the procedure should not constrain or constrain the patient or interfere with the free process of breathing.

9. Carry out inhalation in complete silence, concentrating, without others in the room.

10. Observe personal hygiene measures; wash your hands thoroughly before inhalation.

11. Before using a special device, for example, a nebulizer for cough inhalation, be sure to disinfect it. Do not use oil-based medications in ultrasonic inhalers.

12. Do not allow the inhalation steam to come into contact with the skin of the face, because medicinal drugs will not be absorbed through the skin.

Methods of inhalation to treat cough

We examined the questions of what kind of cough inhalations are used for and for what diseases this method is indicated and contraindicated. And if there is a need to use this method, then it’s time to study it in more detail and understand how to use inhalations for coughing.

Of course, it is much easier and more effective to inhale a cough with a nebulizer or another type of modern inhaler, but what if you don’t have one at hand? This problem can be solved quite simply. You can pour a hot solution for inhalation treatment of cough into a teapot or teapot, close it and inhale the resulting vapors with the remedy through the spout. If the steam is very hot and there is a risk of getting burned, then you can make an improvised cone out of cardboard or thick paper, insert the tip into the spout of the kettle and breathe through this tube.

Some people manage to perform steam inhalations to get rid of coughs by bending over an open pan with a medicinal solution and covering themselves with a thick terry towel. This method has a right to exist, but it is dangerous because you can burn the skin of the face and neck, and worst of all, the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract with hot healing fumes. Therefore, during the procedure, you should not take very deep breaths from the very beginning.

By the way, a hot healing solution does not mean boiling water! And in general, forget about experiments with a boiling solution before inhalation! The maximum temperature of the liquid for the hottest method of cough treatment, steam inhalation, should not exceed 52-57 ° C.

And the steam temperature during therapeutic inhalation for a dry cough for a child of the younger age group should not exceed 30°C. For older children aged about 3-4 years, you can increase the aerosol temperature to 40°C. And the younger the child, the longer the cardboard cone needs to be made to avoid throat burns.

To prevent accidental absorption of the hot inhalation solution into the respiratory tract during coughing, ensure that the cardboard cone does not come into contact with the surface of the healing liquid. Usually, the time of using a warm medicinal solution for the inhalation procedure is always enough so that its temperature does not drop. But if necessary, if it is impossible to warm up the contents of a home inhaler, you can simply add hot water with the required dose of medicine.

Types of modern inhalers for the treatment of cough and respiratory diseases

If you or your child very often suffer from colds, which are accompanied by a long and painful cough, it would be a good idea to purchase a modern inhaler in advance, which will always be at hand in order to administer life-saving inhalation in time for a child with a dry or wet cough. Let's give a brief overview of how to use inhalations for a cough, so that you can navigate choosing the most suitable inhaler for you.

What are the advantages of using an inhaler, and that it helps to deliver therapeutic inhalation agents as far as possible and more effectively to the affected mucous membranes of the respiratory system, facilitates the procedure itself, and can be used not only at home, because you can always keep it at hand.

Inhalers are divided into three main types:

1. The steam inhaler has recently been used very rarely, because many medicines should not be heated to a very high temperature, at which they disintegrate, decompose, and lose their therapeutic effect. But, for example, to treat a cough using inhalations with soda, a steam inhaler is perfect. By the way, using modern steam inhalers, the possibility of burns is excluded, because they have a button for adjusting the steam temperature. In addition, this device is very convenient to use for cosmetic and therapeutic procedures for the skin of the face and neck, the so-called steam bath. These inhalers are best used for aromatherapy.

2. An ultrasonic nebulizer is quite expensive. Its use is limited to the use of those drugs that are destroyed by ultrasound. These can include many types of antibiotics and expectorants. At home, this inhaler is used extremely rarely for the above reasons. However, they are very compact, which allows you to always have them on hand.

3. The most popular, effective and convenient is the compressor inhaler, which is also called a nebulizer. It can be used literally from the moment of birth for newborns without any restrictions. Inhalation procedures for coughing with a nebulizer can be done both at home and in mobile conditions. The medicinal aerosol in nebulizers is created using discharged pressure, and it is activated by inhalation. The higher the inhalation rate, the greater the release rate of this aerosol.

Such inhalations are indispensable for allergic coughs and for relieving attacks of bronchial asthma. The advantage of this inhaler is its ability to create aerosols with tiny particles of medicinal liquid that reach the deepest parts of the lungs. Inhalation for children with a nebulizer when coughing is the most convenient and effective.

What is a nebulizer: advantages and methods of use

The name of this device comes from the Latin word “nebula”, which translates as cloud or fog. The nebulizer inhalation device, under the influence of compressed air, transforms the liquid medium into a healing aerosol, which can then be easily delivered during the procedure to the farthest parts of the respiratory system. A nebulizer is used for inhalation for dry or wet cough caused by acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, including bacterial ones, of the respiratory system, as well as for the emergency relief of attacks of bronchial asthma.

Nebulizers can be portable to serve only one patient or stationary, which are used to treat several people simultaneously. But they all have the same principle of operation, which is based on the spraying of a medicinal solution of the drug, converted by a compressor into an aerosol cloud. A powerful stream of air passes through a small hole in the nebulizer container, which contains the treatment solution. And then the aerosol cloud is fed through a tube or mask into the upper and lower respiratory tract.

The aerosol particles are so small that they easily penetrate into the farthest parts of the lungs. However, depending on the size of the aerosol microparticles, they may not overcome a certain boundary and reach the farthest depths of the respiratory system:

  • particles larger than 10 microns reach the oropharynx;
  • particles of 5-10 microns in size settle in the area from the oropharynx to the trachea;
  • aerosol particles of 2-5 microns in size reach the lower respiratory tract;
  • particles of 0.5-2 microns reach the alveoli.

A nebulizer consists of a chamber shaped like a plastic cup with a volume of 5 to 10 ml, into which a medication solution is poured. This container has a special valve with two outlets. One of them leads through a tube to the device itself, the other is the output one, for supplying a medicinal aerosol into the body of a sick person. A tube or mask is connected to the second hole, from which an aerosol is supplied in the form of fog. If the aerosol has large particles, the compressor is malfunctioning, and inhalation with a nebulizer for a wet cough will be ineffective because it will not penetrate to the desired depth.

By the way, depending on the type of nebulizer, the aerosol can enter the respiratory tract in different ways, having some features:

  • constant supply of an inhalation solution when coughing with a nebulizer in case the supply of aerosol is adjusted during inhalation and exhalation, which leads to loss of the drug and a decrease in the use of a given dose;
  • the process of supplying an aerosol during inhalation and exhalation is regulated by the patient himself in order to save the drug, for which he constantly presses a special button (this method is not suitable for inhalation and treatment of cough in a child).
  • automatic supply of aerosol during inhalation and turning it off during exhalation using a special valve system allows for an increase in the dose of medicinal mist during inhalation.

It should be remembered that there is almost always a residual volume of liquid of 1 ml left in the container, which cannot be used to create an aerosol.

The nebulizer has many advantages:

  • greater work resource;
  • no need to purchase consumables except medicines;
  • compactness;
  • possibility of spraying almost all types of medicines and mineral water;
  • use for inhalation in children suffering from cough.

But there are also minor drawbacks - the noisy operation of large appliances. The ultrasonic type of nebulizer is not suitable for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

We recommend that you read it. “Inhalers for children. Which one to choose and how to use it correctly? — a very educational and informative article about nebulizer inhalers.

Drugs that are not used for inhalation with a nebulizer

Although the range of drugs used for inhalation using a nebulizer is very wide, it is useful to know which inhalations for cough are not indicated, or rather, which drugs and means should not be used for this procedure:

  • drugs that are not capable of providing a medicinal effect upon contact with the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract - Diphenhydramine, Papaverine, Eufillin;
  • solutions containing essential oils, which are useful for treating the nose and nasopharynx, but not for treating the lungs. They can cause damage to the nebulizer and the inability to rinse the “apply membrane”;
  • herbal infusions, decoctions and tinctures due to the risk of overdose of active substances, clogging of the device passages with pieces of grass, roots and leaves;
  • independently crushed solid drugs or syrups due to possible breakdown of the device and the inability to use many topical products.

Drugs recommended for inhalation for cough using a nebulizer

For use in nebulizers, not only medications are indicated, but also mineral water such as “Borjomi”, “Narzan”, “Essentuki” for alkaline inhalations for coughs. In this case, before treating a cough and inhaling mineral water, it is necessary to warm it up, first releasing all the carbon dioxide bubbles. The most harmless and simplest are inhalations for coughing with saline solution.

Medicines must be ready for use, so we list the main drugs that are used in inhalations:

  • antiseptics and antibiotics – Gentamicin, Dioxidin, Tobramycin, Fluimucil, Furacilin;
  • bronchodilators - Atrovent, Salbutamol, Berotek, Berodual, Magnesium Sulfate;
  • hormonal agents - Pulmicort, Budesonide;
  • immunomodulators - Dry leukocyte interferon;
  • local anesthetics – lidocaine;
  • mucolytics – Lazolvan, Pulmozyme, Fluimucil;
  • membrane stabilizers – Cromohexal;
  • herbal medicine – Rotokan;
  • combination drugs – Fenoterol, Berodual;
  • saline;
  • mineral water.

All drugs can be used only after first consulting a doctor, according to his indications. You can independently use 0.9% saline solution or mineral water without any problems or restrictions. Inhalation of a dry cough with saline helps soften the inflammatory process, ease breathing and coughing, moisturize inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, and thin viscous sputum. In addition, inhalation procedures for coughing with saline solution have a mild disinfectant effect on the mucous membranes.

If several drugs are prescribed at once, then you should always start with bronchodilators, which dilate the bronchi, and only then, after 20 minutes, mucolytics are used, and then antibiotics. All solutions for inhalation for the treatment of cough must be sterile, prepared on the basis of distilled water or saline. You cannot use boiled tap water for inhalation.

Features of inhalation treatment for dry and wet cough

Many are faced with the choice of which drug to choose and which cough inhalations will be effective, depending on whether sputum is being released or a dry hacking cough is tormented.

One can imagine the condition of a patient who is overcome by a dry, unproductive cough. There is no sputum production, and coughing attacks deprive sleep and rest. With such a cough, the inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract does not stop, against the background of which pathogenic microorganisms actively multiply. At the same time, they are not eliminated from the body, as a result of which the cells of the surface layer of the mucous membranes are destroyed, and only then does exudation begin with the release of tissue decay and inflammation products from the bronchi.

But until this process begins, it is necessary to carry out anti-inflammatory therapy and soften and even temporarily stop the dry cough. Using a nebulizer for dry coughs, lidocaine is inhaled, which has a local anesthetic effect and has a mild anti-inflammatory effect. To stimulate the formation of sputum, the mucolytic drug Ambroxol is indicated. Inhalation of saline solution for dry coughs or alkaline inhalations will help to soften the inflammatory process in the mucous membranes. By type, inhalations should be moist with a low temperature of the aerosol, so as not to cause increased hyperemia of already inflamed mucous membranes.

If you use a steam inhaler, you can resort to oil inhalations, which have a protective effect by covering the mucous membranes with a thin layer of oil particles. Oil inhalations help soothe dry coughs, reduce swelling and irritation of the mucous membranes. At the same time, inhalations of antibiotics and antiseptics are prescribed.

If it is possible to cause a wet cough, then inhalations for a wet cough are started first with bronchodilators, for example, Atrovent or Magnesium Sulfate, then mucolytics are used - Lazolvan, and only then antiseptics and antibiotics are prescribed. The main thing is to create the opportunity for sputum to freely and easily exit the respiratory tract.

The most popular and effective folk remedies for treating cough by inhalation

To treat wet or dry cough using inhalation, it is imperative to use herbal preparations, which are very effective in nature and are an integral component of the entire treatment. These include eucalyptus leaves, sage, calendula and chamomile flowers, St. John's wort herb, as well as tinctures of St. John's wort, romasulone and salvin. You can use phytoncides in steam inhalations - onions and garlic in a concentration of 1 to 50. There is an alcohol tincture of onions on sale, drops of which are used per 100 ml of water.

An excellent remedy for inhalation for wet and dry coughs would be the following products, which are diluted in 500 ml of warm water:

  • a teaspoon of salt or soda;
  • up to 10 drops of eucalyptus, mint, peach, pine or anise oil;
  • a drop of Vietnamese balm “Star”.

For 100 ml of water, prepare a solution from:

  • gram of chamomile flowers and 5 drops of menthol oil;
  • gram of Romazulone;
  • 10-20 drops Calendula tincture.

In general, the choice of oils for inhalation is very large, in addition to those listed, these are sea buckthorn, olive, rosehip, turpentine, vaseline, almond, rosemary, camphor or mixtures of oils. A 10% alcohol solution of propolis is often used.

The main condition for successful treatment is to always consult a doctor to avoid mistakes when choosing a medicine for inhalation for cough.

The article above and comments written by readers are for informational purposes only and do not encourage self-medication. Consult a specialist regarding your own symptoms and illnesses. When taking any medicine, you should always use the instructions that come with the medicine and your doctor's advice as a guide.

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Inhalations for coughs: saline solution, soda, for children

The inhalation method of treatment has been known since ancient times. Inhalation is inhalation. In fact, everything that gets inside a person along with inhaled air is inhalation. However, this concept has firmly entered our lives precisely as a method of treating various diseases. Most often, inhalations are done for coughs and runny noses.

For many, the word “inhalation” is associated with very unpleasant memories: a saucepan with boiled potatoes or brewed herbs, hot, scalding steam over which you need to breathe, covered with a blanket. For children, this procedure is akin to execution. In addition, it is dangerous due to burns to the mucous membranes due to very hot steam and to the skin if the contents of the saucepan accidentally tip over. But poor children, how can they protest against their mother’s imperious “must!”

It is necessary to forget about inhalation as a painful procedure. We live in a civilized world and treatment methods must be appropriate.

Advantages of the inhalation method of treatment

Inhalations are prescribed for various diseases accompanied by cough. These are acute infections of the upper respiratory tract, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma and even pulmonary tuberculosis.

The pathological process in diseases of the respiratory tract is localized mainly on the mucous membranes, where viruses and bacteria multiply. In response to the introduction of infection, the mucous membrane responds with swelling and excess mucus production, which is manifested by a cough. Muscle spasm in the walls of the bronchi during obstructive diseases is another mechanism for the occurrence of cough.

Therefore, it seems natural that the effect of drugs directly on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract in these diseases will be much more effective than the administration of the same drugs by injection or tablets.

Suffice it to remember that the use of modern inhalation agents has made a real revolution in the treatment of diseases such as bronchial asthma. Patients with this diagnosis, using medications by inhalation, live a normal life without any restrictions and have long forgotten about daily attacks, ambulance calls and systemic administration of hormones with their irreversible side effects.

Drugs inhaled in the form of vapors or aerosols act locally, relieving swelling and irritation, moisturizing the mucous membrane, cleansing it, thinning mucus, helping to quickly remove it from the bronchi and thereby reducing treatment time. Inhaled drugs are absorbed into the general bloodstream in much smaller quantities than with traditional administration, so the risk of side effects is minimized.

For this reason, inhalation treatment is gaining increasing popularity, especially since convenient home inhalers similar to stationary ones have appeared.

What types of inhalations are there?

Depending on the state of aggregation of the inhaled substance, inhalations can be divided into:

  • Steam. Inhalation is carried out by inhaling vapors of solutions of medicinal components. Basically, steam inhalations are carried out with infusions of medicinal herbs, solutions of soda, salt, and essential oils. To do this, the solution must be heated.

Inhalations are classified according to temperature:

  1. Cold (temperature of the inhaled substance up to 30°).
  2. Heat-moist (temperature 30-45°).
  3. Steam (temperature 45-50°).

Video: how to choose an inhaler - Dr. Komarovsky

Main causes of cough

Cough accompanies almost all diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Coughing is an unconditioned reflex that is caused by irritation of the respiratory tract receptors. This reflex is protective and is aimed at cleansing the bronchial tree, trachea and pharynx.

Cough is a symptom, not a disease. In different cases it has different reasons. So, in the first days of an acute respiratory disease, inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and trachea occurs, which causes irritation of the cough receptors. There is no sputum yet, the cough at this time is dry, obsessive, debilitating. After a few days, mucus production increases, the cough becomes productive, phlegm is cleared, the airways clear, and within 7-10 days the patient recovers. This pathogenesis of cough is characteristic of acute respiratory infections, acute pharyngitis, acute tracheitis, and acute catarrhal bronchitis.

In acute laryngitis, cough is caused by irritation of reflex zones located in the larynx. The cough with laryngitis is also dry, obsessive, and does not bring relief. As a rule, there is no sputum with such a cough.

With a complicated course of these diseases, the addition of a bacterial infection, the spread of inflammation to the lower parts of the bronchial tree, the cough prolongs, since sputum accumulates in the lumen of the bronchi, sometimes of a purulent nature, and the removal of this sputum is difficult. Cough caused by prolonged irritation from accumulating sputum is characteristic of bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, acute and chronic sinusitis (flow of mucus from the paranasal sinuses into the pharynx).

Cough can be caused by inhalation of irritants and dust. Allergies are also a fairly common cause of cough.

Other, more rare causes of cough: gastroesophageal reflux, foreign bodies, tumors, compression of the respiratory tract, heart failure, side effects of certain medications, neuroses.

As you can see, the causes of cough are different, and approaches to its treatment should also be different. The main advice is to consult a doctor, find out the cause of the cough and apply the prescribed treatment, including civilized inhalation therapy.

The effect of inhalation on the body

During inhalation the following clinical effects can be achieved:

  • Moisturizes the mucous membrane, which relieves dry cough.
  • Enveloping, creating a protective film when using essential oils. This effect helps to reduce the excitability of cough receptors.
  • Stimulates the formation of sputum, thanks to this effect the cough becomes moist and passes faster.
  • With viscous sputum, thin it and make it easier to pass.
  • Relieving bronchospasm in allergic cough and obstructive bronchial diseases.
  • Detrimental effect on infection when using antiseptics and antibiotics.

What inhalations are used for coughing?

Depending on the nature of the cough, various groups of inhalation drugs are used:

  1. Bronchodilators.
  2. Expectorants (mucolytics).
  3. Saline and alkaline solutions.
  4. Herbal and synthetic antiseptics.
  5. Antibiotics.
  6. Antitussives.
  7. Enzymes.
  8. Hormones.

Inhalations for cough can be performed both in physiotherapy rooms and at home. For these purposes, it is advisable to have a home inhaler.

Steam inhalation at home

To carry out such inhalations at home, you can purchase an inexpensive steam inhaler, but you can also make do with improvised means. The most acceptable method of steam inhalation: a decoction of medicinal herbs or solutions of table salt, soda, essential oils is poured into a teapot, a cone made of paper and cardboard is placed on the spout, and we breathe through the narrow end of the cone. Under no circumstances should the solution be hot. Let's forget about boiling water! The maximum solution temperature is 55°.

Infusions of herbs are used: chamomile, sage, calendula, eucalyptus, raspberry, mint, wild rosemary. There are many recipes for herbal inhalations. Herbal inhalations have an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic effect and can be used for both dry and wet coughs.

You can add honey, essential oil, and garlic juice to the herbal decoction. To soften the throat and improve mucus discharge, soda inhalations and inhalations with saline or mineral water are also used.

Here are some recipes for steam inhalations:

  • Mineral water such as Narzan, Borjomi, Essentuki-17, heated to 50°.
  • Salt solution (1 teaspoon of sea or table salt per 2 glasses of water).
  • Inhalations with soda (1 teaspoon of baking soda per 1 glass of hot (but not boiling) water).
  • Dissolve a tablespoon of honey in boiled water.
  • Brew dry herb (one or a mixture) with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for about a minute. If the infusion has cooled, dilute with boiling water and breathe.
  • Add a drop of essential oil (eucalyptus, fir, mint, pine oil) or a piece the size of a match head of “Star” balm to the herbal infusion. If you don’t have either one or the other at hand, you can throw a validol tablet into the solution.

What do you need to remember about steam inhalation?

  1. With their help it is unlikely to achieve a pronounced therapeutic effect. This is rather a distracting procedure that brings temporary relief from a debilitating cough.
  2. The particles of the substance that enter the body during steam inhalation are quite large, they cannot enter the lower respiratory tract, so their main use is for diseases of the nasopharynx and larynx.
  3. The duration of steam inhalation is minutes, the frequency is 3-4 times a day.
  4. Use herbal decoctions, honey and essential oils with caution in people prone to allergies.
  5. It is not advisable to give steam inhalations to small children, since it is impossible to accurately control the temperature of the steam.
  6. During such inhalations, medications cannot be used, since most of them are destroyed when heated.

Inhalation using a nebulizer

If the family has small children who are often sick or suffer from bronchial asthma, it is worth purchasing a home inhalation device - a nebulizer. Inhalations with a nebulizer significantly expand the possibilities of therapy and the range of drugs used.

A nebulizer has a chamber into which a drug solution is poured and a device for converting this solution into an aerosol. This concentrated mist is released into an outlet tube and inhaled through a mask or mouthpiece. Depending on the type of this device, nebulizers are distinguished:

  • Compressor. The medicinal solution is broken into small droplets when compressed air, which is pumped by a compressor, passes through it.

Such a device is quite bulky, and there is noise during its operation. However, it is the compressor nebulizer that is considered the “gold standard” of inhalation treatment, as it allows you to obtain a cold aerosol from almost any medicine approved for inhalation. In addition, in a compressor nebulizer it is possible to obtain drug particles small enough to penetrate into the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli), which makes it indispensable in the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, and bronchial asthma.

  • Ultrasonic nebulizers. In them, the grinding of the solution to finely dispersed components occurs due to ultrasonic vibrations. Such devices are compact, silent, but have their drawbacks: high-frequency exposure can destroy the structure of some drugs, so hormones, antibiotics and some other drugs cannot be used in such devices. However, if a nebulizer is purchased to treat acute colds in children, then this is the best choice, since it is known that children are afraid of noisy mechanisms.
  • Mesh nebulizers. The medicinal solution is broken down into molecules using a special mesh membrane. They have the advantages of compressor nebulizers, and at the same time are silent. Such devices are quite expensive.

    • Basic rules for nebulizer inhalations:

    1. The procedure should be carried out 1-1.5 hours after eating, relaxing, focusing on your breathing. You need to breathe deeply and freely.
    2. After inhalation, do not drink, eat, smoke, and preferably do not talk for about an hour.
    3. Do not inhale if there are contraindications: body temperature above 37.5°, high blood pressure, heart failure, bleeding. These contraindications also apply to steam inhalations.

    What products are used for cough inhalation using a nebulizer?

    For dry, obsessive cough in acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, antitussive drugs that suppress the excitability of nerve receptors can be used. In the absence of contraindications, lidocaine (2% solution diluted 1:1 with saline) can be used for this purpose. During the dry cough phase, Tussamag and Gedelix can also be prescribed. Inhalations with saline and mineral waters for the purpose of moisturizing are used for any cough, including dry ones.

    When the sputum begins to leave a little, it is necessary to stimulate this process and make it less viscous. For this, mucolytic drugs Lazolvan, Ambrobene, Fluimucil, ACC Inject are used; for children and pregnant women, you can use Pertussin, a dry cough syrup well dissolved in saline.

    Usually, after inhalation with expectorants, the cough intensifies; this is normal.

    After sputum is discharged, it is good to inhale with an anti-inflammatory agent. These can be herbal preparations Rotokan (diluted 1:40), propolis tincture (1:20), Chlorophyllipt (1:10), antiseptics Dioxidin (1% solution, diluted 1:4), Miramistin (0.01% ready solution), antibiotic Gentamicin (4% solution for injection, diluted 1:6).

    For attacks of bronchospasm with cough (allergic cough, bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis), inhaled bronchodilators are used - Berodual, Berotek, Atrovent, Salgim (salbutamol).

    Doses of inhaled drugs are prescribed by the attending physician. Inhalations with saline and mineral water can be carried out without a doctor’s prescription as an independent treatment and in the intervals between inhalations with prescribed medications.

    Video: inhalations, “School of Doctor Komarovsky”

    And for my cough, the doctor prescribed inhalations with medicine and saline solution. He said it was more efficient. 10 minutes was enough for me. breathe steam a day, and I directly felt that it was becoming easier. In fact, inhalations make the cough go away faster, because... The medicine gets into the bronchi faster with steam.

    Source: http://uhonos.ru/gorlo/lechenie-gorla/ingalyacii-pri-kashle/

    How effective are nebulizer inhalations for dry cough?

    For dry cough, inhalations with expectorants and mucolytic drugs are indicated.

    Such drugs in this form are better absorbed in the tissues of the respiratory tract and penetrate deeper into the bronchi, which makes this method highly effective.

    The effectiveness of nebulizer inhalation for dry cough in adults

    With the correct selection of drugs, such a physiotherapeutic procedure is in some cases more effective than drug therapy, especially in the first stages of pathology development.

    The cough reflex can also occur with bronchospasms.

    In such cases, direct direct exposure of the medicinal components to the affected tissue is necessary.

    And this happens when drugs are inhaled, which, under the influence of pressure or ultrasound in nebulizers, are broken down into a finely dispersed state.

    Under such conditions, the drug not only covers large areas of respiratory tract tissue, but is also more easily and quickly absorbed into the systemic bloodstream, providing a therapeutic effect.

    For a dry cough, inhalations quickly thin the mucus, relieve inflammation, cleanse the mucous membranes and remove mucous discharge from the bronchi.

    Indications for the procedure

    Inhalations help with the following diseases with dry cough:

    • bronchial asthma;
    • laryngitis;
    • acute and chronic diseases of the larynx;
    • bronchitis;
    • pneumonia;
    • viral infections of the respiratory tract;
    • disorders that arise from constant exposure to an unfavorable environment on the respiratory system with the subsequent development of a dry cough;
    • tracheitis;
    • angina.

    Inhalations can also be performed as a preventive measure for respiratory pathologies or to consolidate the results of drug treatment.

    General rules for inhalations

    1. It is better to perform the procedure an hour and a half after eating.
    2. Medicines sold in pharmacies cannot be used in their pure form.

    They must be diluted with saline in a 1:1 ratio (in most cases) or in the proportions indicated in the instructions for use.

  • After the procedure, you should stay warm for an hour and do not talk, eat, drink or smoke.

    • For serious illnesses, a number of medications may be prescribed to relieve cough.

    The sequence of their use will be as follows: bronchodilator - expectorant - anti-inflammatory drug.

    The interval between using different products should be at least 15 minutes.

    Procedure

    1. In accordance with the instructions, a medicinal solution is prepared and poured into the nebulizer tank.
    2. The nebulizer turns on, and after a few minutes, when the device is ready for use (most models give a sound or light signal in such cases), the patient begins to inhale the medicine through a special tube or mask.
    3. If a dry cough develops due to severe diseases of the lower respiratory tract, the drug must be inhaled as deeply and slowly as possible through the mouth, and before exhaling, it is necessary to hold the air in the lungs for a couple of seconds.

    If holding your breath in such diseases is impossible and provokes new coughing attacks, just breathe evenly and deeply.

  • If the larynx, trachea or pharynx is affected, the drug must also be inhaled through the mouth, and exhaled through the nose after a 1-2 second delay.
  • Depending on the doctor's recommendations and the drug used, inhalation can last from five to ten minutes.

    • Upon completion of the procedure, it is necessary to rinse the nebulizer and leave it for some time to dry, and then put it away until the next procedure.

    Stay up to date! After inhalation, the mouth can be rinsed with warm water or herbal decoction to remove any remaining medication.

    Contraindications

    The nebulizer procedure is contraindicated for the following diseases:

    • severe heart failure;
    • hypertension;
    • inflammatory processes in purulent form;
    • nosebleeds and hemorrhages in the lungs;
    • emphysema;
    • tuberculosis;
    • vascular pathologies.

    The procedure cannot be performed during an exacerbation of the disease at a body temperature of 37.5 degrees or higher.

    In such cases, therapeutic treatment is first carried out and antipyretics are taken.

    Remedies and popular recipes

    This is a bronchodilator of combined action, promoting the expansion of the lumens in the bronchi and accelerating the discharge of sputum from the lungs and bronchial tree.

    For adults, a mixture of berodual with saline is used in a ratio of 2 to 3. It is enough to carry out 1-2 such procedures per day, depending on how you feel.

  • Berotek.

    • A drug based on the medicinal compound fenoterol.

    This is a stimulator of receptors that are located in the respiratory tract and act as cough centers.

    During the process of inhalation, the receptors, like the smooth muscles of the bronchi, relax and calm down, reducing the likelihood of developing spastic reactions.

    The drug is relevant for all forms of bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

    For inhalation, the drug is diluted with saline in a ratio of 1 to 5, but the first procedure may cause discomfort.

    Therefore, you can first take half the dosage of the drug.

  • Salgim.

    The drug has an inhibitory effect on cough receptors, prevents the development of bronchospasms and relaxes the respiratory muscles.

    At the same time, it does not interfere with cardiac activity and can be used even in the treatment of cough in elderly people.

    It is used for the obstructive form of bronchitis and suffocation that occurs as a result of the development of attacks of dry cough, regardless of the primary disease.

    Salgim inhalations are performed once every six hours; the drug does not need to be diluted with saline, and 2.5 milliliters of the drug is taken for one procedure.

  • Atrovent.

    A medicine based on ipratropium bromide, which blocks the activity of cough receptors.

    The drug quickly spreads throughout the bronchial tree, provoking the discharge of sputum.

    The product in an amount of 0.5 milliliters is diluted with saline solution to obtain a total amount of product in the volume of 5 milliliters.

    The number of procedures per day is determined by the doctor.

  • Pulmicort.

    An anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid drug that is used in the treatment of severe bronchial diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

    The daily dose of the drug for an adult is 2 milliliters (it can be divided into two approaches).

  • Fluimucil.

    A mucolytic drug based on acetylcysteine ​​- this compound thins sputum, as a result of which its discharge accelerates.

    One of the few drugs indicated for inhalation for diseases of the respiratory organs with the release of purulent sputum.

    With long-term treatment (for at least one week), the product helps eliminate serious inflammatory processes and swelling.

    Inhalations are performed 2-4 times a day, their duration should be maximum.

    To prepare the composition, use a 10% solution mixed with saline in equal proportions.

    • The saline solution itself in its pure form can also be used for the inhalation procedure, but it only helps with a dry cough, which should not be accompanied by sputum production (that is, with diseases of the larynx and throat).

    In this case, this drug has a softening and calming effect, and since it contains nothing except distilled water and sodium chloride, its therapeutic effect is minimal.

    But such a solution will not be sterile, and carrying out the procedure with its help can only worsen the condition, since microorganisms that were present in the water and salt can enter the body.

    For inhalations, it is better to take a pharmaceutical saline solution, and such procedures are carried out three times a day for up to ten minutes.

    Useful video

    From this video you will learn about the features of inhalation with a nebulizer for coughing:

    Inhalations for dry coughs help well if used when the disease subsides and there is no high fever.

    It is recommended to use only pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by a doctor - pouring various homemade infusions and folk remedies into the nebulizer is unacceptable.

    Source: http://prostudanet.com/lechen/kashl-vzr-l/suh-kas-vzr-l/ingal-nebul-skv.html