NARRATOR: SOME PEOPLE WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS
NEED TO INHALE MEDICINE INTO THEIR LUNGS.
INHALED MEDICINES CAN BE DELIVERED
BY A DEVICE CALLED A "NEBULIZER"
OR BY A VARIETY OF DEVICES CALLED "INHALERS."
THIS VIDEO WILL SHOW YOU
HOW TO USE A PRESSURIZED METERED DOSE INHALER
TO DELIVER A MEDICINE CALLED "ALBUTEROL."
ALBUTEROL CAN BE USED FOR A VARIETY
OF BREATHING CONDITIONS, SUCH AS ASTHMA
AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, OR COPD.
IT ALSO CAN HELP EASE BREATHING PROBLEMS WHILE EXERCISING.
ALBUTEROL HELPS RELAX AND OPEN THE AIR PASSAGES TO YOUR LUNGS
TO MAKE BREATHING EASIER.
IT HELPS REDUCE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS WHEEZING, COUGHING,
AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
IF YOU HAVE SUDDEN BREATHING PROBLEMS,
YOU CAN USE ALBUTEROL AS A RESCUE INHALER
TO GET RELIEF RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO USE THE INHALER
EXACTLY AS PRESCRIBED.
YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST WILL TELL YOU
WHEN AND HOW OFTEN TO USE IT.
WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR ALBUTEROL INHALER,
YOU SHOULD CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE,
THEN OPEN THE BOX AND READ ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE.
THE MEDICINE IS GOOD FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS
AFTER YOU START USING IT.
EACH INHALER HAS ABOUT 200 DOSES OF ALBUTEROL.
THE INHALER HAS 3 PARTS:
THE BODY, THE MOUTHPIECE CAP,
AND THE CANISTER OF MEDICINE.
YOU MUST PRIME YOUR INHALER BEFORE USING IT.
TO PRIME IT, TAKE OFF THE MOUTHPIECE CAP,
SHAKE THE INHALER FOR 5 SECONDS,
POINT IT AWAY FROM YOUR FACE,
AND PUSH DOWN ON THE TOP OF THE CANISTER
TO RELEASE A TEST SPRAY INTO THE AIR.
FOLLOW THESE STEPS ONE MORE TIME TO FULLY PRIME THE INHALER.
IF YOU EVER GO LONGER THAN 14 DAYS
WITHOUT USING YOUR INHALER,
YOU SHOULD PRIME IT AGAIN BEFORE USING IT.
TO USE THE INHALER,
TAKE A FULL BREATH IN,
THEN LET THE AIR OUT SLOWLY,
MAKING AS MUCH ROOM IN YOUR LUNGS AS YOU CAN
FOR THE MEDICINE.
AS YOU FINISH BREATHING OUT,
LIFT THE INHALER TO YOUR MOUTH
AND CLOSE YOUR LIPS AROUND THE MOUTHPIECE,
WITH THE CANISTER POINTING UP AT THE CEILING.
BREATHE IN SLOWLY AND DEEPLY THROUGH YOUR MOUTH.
WHILE BREATHING IN,
PRESS THE TOP OF THE CANISTER ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO GIVE YOURSELF A DOSE OF THE MEDICINE.
REMOVE THE INHALER, CLOSE YOUR MOUTH,
AND TRY TO HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR 10 SECONDS.
THIS HELPS THE MEDICINE GET DEEP INTO YOUR LUNGS.
NOW BREATHE OUT AS SLOWLY AS YOU CAN.
SOME PEOPLE NEED TO USE A DEVICE CALLED A "SPACER"
TO HELP THEM USE THE INHALER CORRECTLY.
YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST WILL TELL YOU
IF YOU NEED A SPACER AND WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO USE IT.
SOME PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE TWO PUFFS
EACH TIME THEY USE THE INHALER.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE ONE PUFF, WAIT A FULL MINUTE,
AND THEN TAKE THE OTHER PUFF.
IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A SECOND DOSE,
SHAKE THE INHALER FOR ANOTHER 5 SECONDS,
AND THEN REPEAT THE PROCESS.
WHEN YOU'RE DONE, PUT THE CAP BACK ON THE MOUTHPIECE.
SOME METERED DOSE INHALERS CONTAIN STEROIDS.
YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST WILL TELL YOU
IF YOURS IS ONE OF THEM.
IF YOUR INHALER CONTAINS A STEROID,
RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SIDE EFFECTS.
YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR INHALER EVERY 7 DAYS.
TO DO THIS, REMOVE THE CANISTER FROM THE DEVICE
BY GENTLY PULLING IT OUT,
TAKE THE CAP OFF THE MOUTHPIECE,
RINSE THE DEVICE UNDER WARM RUNNING WATER FOR 30 SECONDS,
THEN SHAKE OFF AS MUCH WATER AS YOU CAN.
LOOK INTO THE MOUTHPIECE TO MAKE SURE
NOTHING IS BLOCKING THE HOLE THAT THE MEDICINE COMES THROUGH.
NOW DRY THE INHALER COMPLETELY
BY WIPING IT WITH A CLEAN, DRY CLOTH OR PAPER TOWEL
OR LETTING IT AIR-DRY OVERNIGHT.
YOU SHOULD STORE YOUR INHALER SOMEPLACE THAT STAYS DRY
AND AT A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE.
A KITCHEN CABINET MIGHT BE A GOOD SPOT.
IT WON'T GET TOO HOT OR TOO COLD, IT STAYS DRY,
AND IT'S UP AND AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS.
WHEN YOU FOLLOW THE STEPS WE'VE SHOWN YOU TODAY,
THE PRESSURIZED METERED DOSE INHALER
WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO,
DELIVER THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MEDICINE
AND HELP YOU BREATHE EASIER.