Nebulizers and the Covid Connection

BEFORE COVID SYMPTOMS AND DURING COVID SYMPTOMS:

In terms of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease COVID-19 guidance advises that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) maintain regular therapy. Similarly, for patients with asthma and/or allergies, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAI) recommends that patients continue their treatment. Therefor, patients who are at home receiving nebulized treatment for chronic airway disease and are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 should continue their nebulized treatments. If symptoms develop, patients should self-isolate at home, and, if they are doing that effectively, they can continue their nebulized treatment.

Patients with bronchitis and pneumonia may also carry on with their nebulizing treatment as before.

According to the Lancet journal, the medication in the nebuliser is considered a non-patient source that might not generate bioaerosols carrying pathogens, unless the nebuliser is contaminated.

Usage of Nebulizers before COVID-19 symptoms and during COVID-19 symptoms are helpful for the following:

  • Patients with severe, life-threatening respiratory disease (e.g., those with severe or impending respiratory arrest, or those with hypoventilation or ventilation compromise, continuous nebulization, end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis)
  • Patients who are uncooperative or are unable to follow the directions required for using a metered-dose inhaler with spacer,
  • Patients with a history of poor response to metered-dose inhaler space

MEDICATIONS THAT CAN BE GIVEN SUCCESSFUL WITH NEBULIZERS:

  • bronchodilators – drugs that open up your airways
  • hypertonic saline solutions (medical grade saltwater solutions) – that loosen mucus in your airways and make it easier to cough up
  • antibiotics to treat and prevent infections

BENEFITS OF NEBULIZERS BEFORE COVID SYMPTOMS:

  • According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, bronchodilator medication begins working approximately five minutes after you take by nebulizer.  However, the same medicine would require roughly 30 minutes to begin working if you were to take it in pill form.
  • Medicines that you swallow have to first be broken down by the digestive system. Then it has to enter the bloodstream and circulate until it reaches the part of the body actually in need of the medicine. In contrast, a medicine taken by nebulizer bypasses the digestive system and the bloodstream, going immediately to the inflamed airways. When someone is having an asthma attack, minutes can seem to pass like hours. Every minute saved reduces the chance of the asthma attack escalating into an even bigger health concern.
  • Nebulizer Treatments Produce Fewer Side Effects: Using a nebulizer tends to produce fewer side effects than taking medicines orally. Fewer patients complain of increased heartbeats or headaches.

Nebulizer therapy can be used for years with less long-term side effects compared to long-term steroid treatment which can cause a high blood sugar level, high blood pressure, weight gain, and the loss of bone mass.

  • Nebulizers are Simple to Use: The simplicity of using a nebulizer makes it possible for most people to administer their medication at home without any assistance from nurses or home healthcare agents. Nebulizers are not complicated equipment. The average person daily operates household appliances that are far more challenging than a nebulizer.

Nebulizers don’t require the patient to inhale or exhale in any certain way. In fact, he should breathe normally though somewhat deeply. Contrast that method with the use of an inhaler. Inhalers require patients to perform a complex choreography involving their inhalation and exhalation along with triggering the device.

  • Nebulizers Are Convenient: Nebulizers come in sizes small enough to take with you across town, out of state, or overseas. They’re easy to unpack and set up.

The typical nebulizer requires only the one normal household outlet. However, there are also battery-operated nebulizers for those times when there’s no electrical outlet available. The batteries are rechargeable.

  • Nebulizers Can Improve Your Long-Term Health: A nebulizer can give you peace of mind. Once you have experienced the quick results that come from a nebulizer, you’ll be able to sleep at night knowing that relief from a respiratory emergency is only a few minutes away. It’s like having a competent medical assistance always standing ready at your side.

There are multiple types of nebulizers on the market so that you and your doctor can choose the one most appropriate for your respiratory treatment.

There are jet nebulizers which use high-speed air to convert your liquid medication into a breathable mist. Ultrasonic machines perform the same function using sound waves rather than air.

Other nebulizers vibrate to break the medicine into tiny drops. There are still other nebulizers which emit a mist of medicine only when you inhale. It therefore uses less medicine than the other types of nebulizers.

  • Nebulizers Can Help You Remain Active: The fear of having a respiratory attack can make you avoid social situations that you would otherwise love to attend. Having a nebulizer with you at all times can get you out of the house and back into life.
  • Nebulizers Are Cost Effective: Nebulizers are relatively inexpensive equipment.

One trip to the emergency room costs several times that of an average nebulizer. It’s sad to think about how many times people have had to go to the emergency room because they didn’t own a nebulizer. Once they arrive at the emergency room, they’re likely to receive the same medicine using a nebulizer that they could have used at home.

If a nebulizer is well-maintained, it’s not an item that needs to be replaced frequently. Your nebulizer will remain in your home long enough to pay for itself many times over.

(Marc Kaplan: Save Rite Medical: Jul 2019)

BENEFITS OF NEBULIZERS DURING COVID SYMPTOMS:

According to the American Lung Association (ALA) when you are experiencing COVID symptoms or were diagnosed with COVID- 19, you can use a Nebulizer and it will provide you with the following benefits:

  • Breathe easier
  • Do more of the things you enjoy
  • Have fewer flare-ups or exacerbations
  • Nebulized therapy continues to be a safe and effective way to manage your COPD or COVID- 19 at home. This is especially true now that all classes of drugs – inhaled steroids, long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilators and long-acting beta-agonist bronchodilators can now be given in a nebulized form.

Special Considerations for Using Your Nebulizer if You Have COVID-19 Take your nebulized medications as directed. Pay attention to the following: • Wash your hands before and after your treatment • Use your nebulizer in an area that limits potential exposure of the aerosolized droplets to other household members, such as:

  • An outdoor area such as a porch or patio hours
  • A room away from other people. Choose a room where the air is not recirculated and nobody else will enter for 1-2 hours. This ensures the droplets are no longer airborne.
  • Clean and disinfect your nebulizer

(American Lung Association November 2020)

DIFFERENT NEBULIZERS:

There are three main types of nebulizers:

  • Jet. This uses compressed gas to make an aerosol (tiny particles of medication in the air).
  • Ultrasonic. This makes an aerosol through high-frequency vibrations. The particles are larger than with a jet nebulizer.
  • Mesh. Liquid passes through a very fine mesh to form the aerosol.

BENEFITS OF USING A CICOBOY NEBULIZER:

  • Sere-med’s Cico Boy nebulizer offers a unique feature …. selected treatments:
  • Cico boy nebulizer has 3 adaptors:

Adaptor A: For the upper respiratory tract with a maximum output of 0.25ml/min

Adaptor B: For the bronchial tract with a maximum output of 0.28ml/min

Adaptor C: For the lower respiratory tract with a maximum output of 0.26ml/min (which makes the Cico Boy nebulizer ideal to use when experiencing COVID -19 symptoms. These adaptors ( A, B & C) have the ability to breakdown the molecules of medication to ensure the medication is deposited into the area ( for example the lungs ) to be treated and to start acting immediately.

  • Cico Boy nebulizer is reliable and is manufactured with quality components and has an established proven track record in the International and SA medical markets and public sectors.
  • Highly efficient performance whenever intensive treatment is required.
  • When inhaling from a nebulizer, there’s no need to breathe in forcefully or use your hands and there are no special techniques required at all—you simply breathe as normal. This is particularly beneficial for young children, the elderly and people with limited hand mobility.

When you are under self -quarantine or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or after COVID-19, and you have been advised to use a Nebulizer, use it in a closed room/space to minimize the risk of exposure to other family members. After you have used your Nebulizer, follow the required health protocols by cleaning and sanitizing the Nebulizer and use an alcohol-based sanitizer for your hands thereafter. Use Sere-spray three in one air neutralizer/deodorizer and surface disinfectant to sanitize the room. It is recommended that the room be left for at least 2 hours for the droplets to dissipate. Should a Nebulizer be recommended/ prescribed by your Medical Practitioner, consider and use our Cico Boy Nebulizer. Available directly from Sere-med Direct.