What Is a Nebulizer?

Series Summary

The nebulizer is medicine delivery device which turns liquid medicine into a mist by pumping oxygen through the medicine to vaporize it. This treatment is common for respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis and asthma, although inhalers cost less and are more portable. This device is also used to limit effects of potentially dangerous medications, such as steroids, to the lungs and respiratory systems instead of saturating the entire body with them, as would be the case if taken in liquid form.

In this free diy healthcare video, our experienced nebulizer user gives you helpful tips for using this medicine vaporizer. Learn precautions for letting children use the “atomizer,” as it is also known, and for preparing the medicine to be vaporized. Our expert demonstrates how to use the mask and the wand and gives you thorough instructions for cleaning the nebulizer and its accessories. Not sure if this type or treatment is right for you or your child? Wondering how long you should continue using the nebulizer? Watch this excellent series and you will find out all you need to know about this treatment.

Video Transcript

"A nebulizer is essentially a small compact air compressor. Nebulizers are used for persons that are having difficulty breathing, typically with asthma. I was introduced to using a nebulizer when my son was about 9 months old because he was having repeated problems with colds and a lot of coughing and that kind of thing. Nebuilzers basically are things that you would be using medication with. It takes a liquid medication and it puts it into the form of a fine mist and then that mist is therefore able to be distributed into the lungs. This would be an example of medication that is used, this is called Xepenex, that is used with a nebuilzer. Rates of asthma has increased substantially in the United States in the past 20, 30 years. So we are seeing a lot more use of these. You do want to use nebuilzers in accordance with your physician, they're the ones that are going to be recommending specific medication. You can purchase these at a medical supply store. "