Know how to get the best from your blue inhaler (reliever).
Blue inhalers open up your airways and should ease your symptoms within five to ten minutes. Their job is to open up your airways by relaxing the muscle, making it easier to breathe.
Blue inhalers should be used to relieve symptoms as they happen. They do not need to be used at set times of the day, along with your preventer inhaler.
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist should show you how to use your inhaler and make sure you can use it properly, even when you are feeling breathless.
If you are struggling to use your inhaler, tell them so they can help find a device that suits you.
Asthma
With asthma, mild occasional symptoms are usually helped with your blue inhaler. If you need to use it more than two or three times a week, or if you are having ongoing symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your nurse or doctor for an asthma review.
You should seek urgent medical help if you are using your blue inhaler more than four times a day with less relief and your breathing is getting worse.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
With COPD, blue inhalers are used to relieve symptoms when needed, or to increase the amount of activity you are able to do. If you are using your blue inhaler more often than usual or if it doesn’t appear to be helping, it is worth speaking to your nurse or
doctor so they can make sure you are on the correct inhalers.
For advice about inhalers and video clips showing how to use these, visit the ‘My Lungs My Life’ website at www.mylungsmylife.org