Before  you use an Albuterol Inhaler, it is important that you know how to operate it properly. The way to do it may not be the same for every individual hence you should consult your health service provider for one that suits you. However, below are some typical tips for you.

How To Operate An Albuterol Inhaler Properly?

1. Remove the protective mouth cap from the end of the mouth piece. Shake your inhaler gently.

2. If it is the first time you use an inhaler or if you have not used it for a long time, you should it give a test spray by pressing the top of the canister to spray it into the air.

3. Breathe out as completely as possible through your mouth. Put the mouthpiece of the inhaler directly into your mouth. However, some health-care professionals now recommend to position the inhaler 1 to 2 inches away from the mouth. You should consult your health service provider which is the best method for you.

4. Breathe in slowly and spray the medication into the mouth while doing so. Do not spray into the back of the throat and swallow it. The spray should be inhaled directly into your lungs.

5. You should wait at least 1 minute before you go for the next spray. It is not always necessary to spray more than once. The dosage of your Albuterol Inhaler should depend on what your health service provider recommends.

6. To treat or prevent an asthma attack, it is recommended to give yourself 2 sprays or as needed, every 4 to 6 hours.

If you have never use an Albuterol Inhaler before, do read the written instructions that come with it.  Ask your health service provider to show you how to use it. Practice using it while he or she watches.

An Albuterol Inhaler may also be used in the event of exercise-induced asthma attack. You may have exercise-induced asthma if you cough, wheeze or feel out of breathe during or after exercise. An exercise-induced asthma is typically or may only be triggered by exercise or physical exertion.

What Happens During An Exercise-Induced Asthma Attack :

When an exercise-induced asthma attack occurs, our bronchial tubes, the main air passage ways of our lungs, become inflamed.  Our airways will be further narrowed when the muscles of the bronchial walls tighten and cells in the lungs produce further muscus.

Signs And Symptoms Of An Exercise-Induced Asthma :

Apparently when a person suffers from an exercise-induced asthma may display common signs or symptoms like wheezing, tightness or pain in chest, coughing or even severe or prolonged shortness of breathe. Additional symptoms include fatigue during exercise, longer recovery time after exercise or even poor athletic performance.

Causes Of An Exercise-Induced Asthma :

Regular asthma and exercise-induced asthma are similar conditions on a practical level. Exercise may be the only cause of exercise-induced asthma but sometimes can be triggered by allergies, pet dander or respiratory infections. Symptoms triggered by exercise can occur to anyone who has asthma.

Proper warm up and cool down may prevent or reduce the incidence of exercise-induced asthma. For patients with exercise-induced asthma, it is recommended to use an albuterol inhaler 15 to  30 minutes before any physical activity.

The dose of your Albuterol Inhaler your health care provider recommended should be strictly followed. You may only adjust it only when you are specifically instructed to do so. It typically varies depending on the severity of your asthma or other respiratory problems, whether you are using the your inhaler to prevent or treat asthma, and implications with other medicines you are taking at the moment.

General Albuterol Inhaler Dosage :

Typically, to treat or prevent an asthma attack, the recommended dosage is 2 sprays or as needed, every 4 to 6 hours. To prevent exercise-induced asthma, it is recommended to have 2 sprays 15 to 30 minutes before exercising. However, if your Albuterol Inhaler does not adequately or effectively control your asthma attack, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Above are only some general dosage guidelines when using an Albuterol Inhaler. Different patients have different asthma conditions or breathing problems. Some patients need only 1 spray to control their asthma symptoms where others may need more sprays frequently. Some use an inhaler to prevent an attack where some use it only during an attack when they need it.

An Albuterol Inhaler is a Metered-Dosed Inhaler (MDI) that typically comes either CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) or HFA (Hydrofluoroalkane) propelled. CFC are the commonly used propellant in the early days of MDIs.

HFA are the more environmental-friendly propellant found in the newer models of MDI. An HFA-propelled Albuterol Inhaler may taste and feel different than a CFC-propelled one. You may feel the spray of an HFA-propelled inhaler softer.

CFC-propelled Albuterol Inhalers will be phasing out as they have been found to be harmful to the environment by contributing to depletion of the ozone layer above the Earth’s surface. Effectively after December 31st 2008, CFC-propelled inhalers will not be available in the United States.

Hence, CFC-propelled Albuterol Inhaler users are strongly urged to consult their health service provider to switch to HFA-propelled inhalers soonest as FDA (U.S. Food And Drug Administration) has approved the latter and manufacturers have increased the their production for adequate supply and purchase.

An Albuterol Inhaler is a prescription-based asthma inhaler which is typically used when there is an asthma attack. Albuterol can cause side effects and the amount of inhalations should not be administered more often than prescribed.

Who Uses An Albuterol Inhaler?
An Albuterol Inhaler is mainly used by patients with asthma or exercise-induced asthma, whose airways are obstructed when breathing (bronchospasm). It can also be used to treat patients with emphysema and chronic bronchitis when their symptoms are related to reversible airway obstruction.

Who Should Use An Albuterol Inhaler With Caution?
Patients with coronary heart diseases or cardiac rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) should use an Albuterol Inhaler with caution. The combined effect of Albuterol with other stimulant medications will affect the heart rate and blood pressure and may potentially cause chest pain in patients with underlying coronary heart disease.

Excessive use of albuterol inhalations will have adverse effects on the heart. Always remember to follow proper inhalation technique and the specific instructions that come with the drug packaging should be followed exactly.