A nebulizer machine works to relieve coughing by turning liquid medicines into breathable ones.
You then inhale this fine mist through a mouthpiece so that the medicine reaches your lungs faster.
Before all of that can happen, you first have to know what to put in nebulizer for cough relief.
In fact, it’s a good idea to learn about nebulizers in general, considering they come in different types.
Among these is ProNebu’s Mesh Portable Nebulizer, a must-have for anyone who suffers from a respiratory disease.
What Is Coughing a Symptom Of?
Coughs may be a result of either acute or chronic conditions.
The former comes on suddenly, is often because of flu, cold, or acute bronchitis, and does not last longer than three weeks.
In comparison, chronic coughs take longer to go away, usually lasting more than eight weeks. At the same time, you may also experience:
- Hoarseness
- Runny nose
- Postnasal drip
- Heartburn
- Shortness of breath
When to See a Doctor
Several days of coughing after being infected with the flu or even the common cold aren’t that much cause for concern.
However, if it lasts for longer than three weeks, it’s time to see the doctor.
In fact, do not hesitate to get to the nearest healthcare facility if you’re experiencing breathing difficulties like:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Pale, bluish skin
- Audible wheezing
Contact emergency care if your coughing also comes with:
- Vomiting
- Choking
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Bloody mucus
What Conditions Require a Nebulizer?
Depending on the type of respiratory condition you have, your healthcare provider may prescribe nebulizer treatment or not.
In general, you can benefit from medicine delivery via nebulizers if you have any of these lung disorders:
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Cystic fibrosis
- COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Younger individuals with bronchiolitis or another respiratory infection may also experience relief through nebulizer treatments.
Yet, for that to happen, your healthcare provider will first have to figure out what’s causing the coughs.
This way, they can provide you with the right drug and the proper dose.
Asthma
Depending on the advice of a healthcare professional, children and adults with asthma will find respiratory relief from daily nebulizer treatments.
Taking your maintenance prescriptions this way can reduce the frequency of your asthma attacks.
Bronchitis
Coughing is just one of the many bronchitis symptoms that a nebulizer treatment can address.
In addition to airway inflammation, the most common symptoms of bronchitis include coughing with mucus, fever, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Cystic Fibrosis
For an individual with cystic fibrosis, a nebulizer is an invaluable piece of medical equipment designed to improve their lung function.
It reduces the severity of their condition and makes it more manageable to take several inhaled medicines for maintenance.
COPD
Aside from coughing, this chronic inflammatory lung disease causes wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Treating COPD and its symptoms requires the use of several medications administered daily. Done this way, you can significantly improve your quality of life.
Respiratory Infection
Even with flu shots, there’s no guarantee that you’d be safe from respiratory infections, especially during the flu season.
The infection risk is even higher for those who are immunocompromised, as well as for the elderly, young children, and pregnant women.
To prevent the infection from taking a turn for the worst, nebulizer treatments are prescribed to those with severe respiratory infections.
How Does a Nebulizer Relieve Coughing?
Nebulizer treatments relieve coughing and several other symptoms of various respiratory illnesses better than others.
How so? Compared to other treatments, a nebulizer delivers medication quickly and directly into the lungs.
As you can imagine, it is a preferred treatment option over delivery via inhalers, especially for youngsters.
After the medication reaches the lungs, you will notice relief.
It provides ample time for your other medications to work and allows your body to heal itself.
That said, note that long-term and excessive coughing may not go away by treating it with nebulizers alone.
Working with healthcare providers is still the best route to take to ensure you get the proper type and dose of medicine.
What to Put in Nebulizer for Cough?
It’s worth noting that coughing is not a condition but a symptom. So, the first step to knowing what to put in nebulizer for cough relief is to get a diagnosis.
Especially if it has been going on for quite some time, do not hesitate to visit any of the several health care facilities near you.
Your doctor will ask you questions and may perform tests to determine the underlying condition that’s causing the coughing.
They will then prescribe the kind and dose of medicine you need to take.
To give you an idea, here are possible prescription medications you will be required to take and use with a nebulizer:
For Asthma
The most common medications prescribed to asthma patients are corticosteroids.
Used together with bronchodilators, this combo reduces airway inflammation, opening it up so you can breathe more easily.
For Bronchitis
Albuterol nebulizers are often prescribed to alleviate bronchitis symptoms because they help dilate bronchial tubes.
During your treatment, it’s also a good idea to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest to assist your body in its healing.
For Cystic Fibrosis
As mentioned, those with cystic fibrosis need to take various medications.
To experience relief, they will need antibiotics, hypertonic saline solution, bronchodilators, and steroids in their nebulizer.
For COPD
Many effective methods can help a person recover from COPD or emphysema.
For instance, a healthcare professional might prescribe daily nebulizer treatments on top of nutritional therapy and breathing exercises.
These treatments may include various medications like anticholinergics, corticosteroids, and beta-agonists.
For Respiratory Infection
For respiratory infections, you need antibiotics, and you need them fast.
What better way to deliver it to a patient’s lungs than a nebulizer?
This approach is also quick and easy to do, making the entire healing process more comfortable.
What Are the Different Types of Nebulizer Machines?
While they may look similar to the uninformed, nebulizers come in various types, namely:
- Jet or Compressor Nebulizers: This machine uses compressed air to push vaporized medicine through the mouthpiece.
- Ultrasonic Nebulizers: These devices use sound waves to turn liquid medicine into aerosol droplets.
- Mesh Nebulizers: This equipment vibrates to push the medicine through a mesh, turning liquid into breathable medicines.
For a virtually silent, user-friendly, and residue-free nebulizer, it’s best to choose those that use vibrating mesh technology.
For that, we recommend the ProNebu Mesh Portable Nebulizer.
Why Opt for the ProNebu Mesh Portable Nebulizer?
As a portable nebulizer, you can take it anywhere without fear of ever suffering from an acute asthma episode again.
Unlike jet nebulizers, it is easy to clean and operates quietly. You can also choose to run it via AA batteries or plug it in via the included micro USB cord.
What’s more, upon purchase, you have 30 days to decide whether or not you’d like your money refunded or have a replacement delivered.
Still unsure? Let’s look at its pros and cons to get an idea of what it offers.
Pros:
- Lightweight yet solid construction
- Relief from symptoms of bronchitis, asthma, and others
- Suitable for adults and children
- Produces a very fine mist
- Works efficiently and silently
- Budget-friendly
Con:
- Would’ve preferred it to be rechargeable
Nebulizer for Cough
Used as it should, a nebulizer is among the most effective methods of managing respiratory illnesses. Even better, it is fairly safe to use.
However, it’s crucial to remember not to share any prescription medication with family members and friends.
Also, take the time to clean every inch of the machine after every use to avoid spreading viruses and bacteria.
Since nebulizers work with liquid, they can grow moldy and unsafe to use.
If you want one that’s quick and easy to operate and keep clean, check out the ProNebu’s Mesh Portable Nebulizer.