Key Points at a Glance
- During the cold season, colds are making their return.
- In most cases, the upper respiratory tract is affected, the mucous membranes become irritated, and we sneeze and cough.
- In this case, steam is a good idea—it moistens the mucous membrane and helps loosen the mucus.
- With an inhaler, you can easily deliver the humidified air right where it's needed.
A cold always comes with a lot of unpleasant symptoms. We feel sluggish and weak, and we know we have a few uncomfortable days ahead of us. But what’s most annoying is the runny nose and cough. It’s especially the often harsh and dry cough that really gets to us, and it often strikes at the most inconvenient times—like while we’re eating, or in the middle of the night.
A dry cough is annoying—to us and to those around us
The worst thing about a dry cough is that we know full well that the cold isn’t really getting any better. Plus, the barking gets on our nerves—not just our own, but those of the people around us, too. The well-known cough drops and cough syrups only provide short-term relief because they don’t provide the mucous membranes with the moisture they actually need.
This is because only moist mucous membranes help a cold run its course. The longer they remain dry, the greater the risk of becoming infected with other pathogens at the same time. If, on the other hand, the mucous membranes are moist, the thick and hard secretions are loosened, and we can cough them up. But how do we keep our airways and mucous membranes moist? An inhaler is ideal.
Use an inhaler to loosen thick and stubborn mucus
Hot—or at least warm—steam is a tried-and-true remedy for clearing the upper respiratory tract and loosening thick, stubborn mucus. This applies to coughs and colds, bronchitis, and sinus infections. But even chronic respiratory conditions can be effectively managed with moist, inhaled air.
There are several ways to get the steam to where it’s needed. Many people swear by inhaling steam from a pot of tea—ideally chamomile, since this plant also has decongestant properties. This method is time-honored and works reliably, though it does require a bit of effort. If you’d like to save yourself a little work, your best bet is to get an inhaler.
There are various types of inhalers
There are different types of inhalers, and they use various techniques. There are ultrasonic and compressed-air nebulizers, which produce a very fine mist that enters the sinuses and throat through the mouth and nose and penetrates as far as the capillaries. Steam inhalers, on the other hand, replace the pot, though many of these devices include masks that channel the warm steam and allow for more targeted inhalation. Handheld inhalers, in turn, generate the mist using a vibrating membrane.
However, there are other factors that are more important than the technology itself and that you need to consider when purchasing an inhaler. For example, the device’s nebulization capacity is important because it determines how long it can be used. The size of the particles produced by the inhaler is also important. This determines which part of the respiratory tract the particles can reach.
