Vocal steam inhaler vs nebulizer?
Are you wondering which one is better for your voice?
In this video, I am comparing my Mabis steam inhaler and Mesh nebulizer.
Stay tuned to find out which one I prefer to use and why.
Hi!
I am Katarina, speech language pathologist from How 2 Improve Singing and here on this
channel, I share practical tips about using your voice in a healthy way.
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In January 2019, I posted a video about my favourite steam inhaler.
Since then, I have been receiving questions about vocal steamers and nebulizers.
What is the difference?
Do you recommend nebulizers for singers and voice users?
So, I decided to test a nebulizer, and in this video, I am going to tell you what I
think.
First, let me give you an update on my favourite steam inhaler Mabis.
As I was preparing for this video, I noticed that the price I quoted in the original video
went up.
I bought my personal steamer in December 2018 and it cost me 50 CAD, which at that time
translated into about 30 US.
Today, the same steam inhaler costs almost 70 CAD.
At the current exchange rate, that comes to about 50 to 55 US.
I also noticed that Mabis steam inhaler is no longer available for purchase on the US
Amazon website.
You can still buy it on the Canadian Amazon site and you can also buy it on the Walmart
website.
So, things have changed in one year.
If you haven’t seen that video, you can watch it right after this one.
I will link to it at the end of the video.
In that video, I am talking about the benefits of steaming for voice and I also shared a
little trick that gives you even more steam.
Now, let’s talk about nebulizers.
I bought mine from Amazon.ca and at the time of purchase, it cost almost 46 Canadian dollars,
which translates to about $35 US.
As you can see, on the Amazon site, it has a crazy name “Portable Mini Humidifier Machine
Handheld Travel Steam Compressor Vaporizers Cool Mist Kits for Adults & Kids” but in
reality, it is a Mesh Nebulizer as you can see on the packaging.
I opted for this one because it was one of the cheaper nebulizers but it also seemed
to be widely available at the same time.
So, what is a nebulizer?
A nebulizer is a machine that turns liquids into mist.
Nebulizers are mainly used for administration of medication in the form of mist for conditions
like asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses.
But recently, singers and professional voice users started to take advantage of this machine
too.
Therefore, there are only a handful of studies examining the effectiveness of nebulizers
for voice.
Compared to steam inhalers, which produce warm steam, nebulizers create cool mist made
of much smaller particles.
It means that the mist is easily inhaled into the lungs.
One might think that it also means better hydration but we have no research studies
to confirm that yet.
The size of the particles, however, can be a double-edged sword.
Small particles can really get down to your lungs and cause trouble, if these particles
are harmful.
Therefore, it is recommended that you use sterile water or sterile saline water with
nebulizers to avoid infection of the lungs.
Don’t use home-made solutions, stick to sterile products.
So, take that into account when deciding about using nebulizers.
Now, should you use sterile water or sterile saline water?
There is one study that compared the use of sterile water and sterile saline water and
the results showed that only saline solution had positive effects on the subjects’ perceived
vocal effort.
This means that only subjects who used saline water in their nebulizer experienced relief
from dryness.
Therefore, it is recommended that you use 0.9% isotonic saline water.
0.9%, not more, not less.
Sterile isotonic saline water.
So, what do I think about this particular nebulizer?
Here are three things that I like about this nebulizer.
#1 It’s small, compact and light weight.
This is a no brainer, if you compare it to the Mabis steam inhaler.
Great size for travelling or moving around.
#2 The price is right.
Or at least right now.
The price of this nebulizer is better than the price of a steam inhaler.
#3 It’s battery operated.
This is a huge advantage because you don’t need to be close to an electric outlet so
you can really use it on the go.
But the battery life is quite short as the machine uses a lot of power.
Now, here are my three main complaints about the nebulizer:
#1 As I explained earlier, it is recommended to use sterile saline water.
It took me quite a while to find it because not every pharmacy carries it.
You can buy sterile saline water on Amazon but it costs almost as much as the device
itself so I was not willing to do that.
I went to several pharmacies until I found this little guy.
And for nebulizers, you need a very small amount of liquid, less than 8 mml.
So, it’s a pain to find it.
But once you have it, you are good to go.
#2 It is important to keep the device clean because you don’t want bacteria or other
unwanted particles to enter your lungs.
So, the device has to be cleaned after each use.
The disinfecting procedure is not complicated but it is something that has to be done.
You need to let all the parts dry well to prevent mold.
#3 is my personal preference and you may not agree with me on this one.
The mist is cold, which some people may view as an advantage.
You definitely won’t burn yourself.
But for me it also means less satisfaction when I inhale the mist.
I really enjoy the warm steam from a steam inhaler.
I like the warmth.
It feels like you are in a spa or sauna.
I personally, feel more hydrated when I inhale steam.
But again, this is my personal opinion.
So, what is my verdict?
I will stick to my steam inhaler for use on a regular basis.
It just gives me more satisfaction.
Yes, it is much bigger and right now, it costs more.
But I really like the warm steam!
I may take the small nebulizer with me when I travel.
I guess it all comes down to a personal preference.
What about you?
Do you use a nebulizer or steam inhaler?
Which one do you like and why?
Let me know in the comments below.
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I will see you in my next video.