Breathing Treatments & Inhalers: What to Expect During a Respiratory Visit

If you’ve ever struggled to catch your breath or dealt with a persistent cough, you know how important proper respiratory care is for feeling better. Conditions like asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections can turn your world upside down when they’re not properly managed.

Breathing treatments and inhalers are effective medical therapies that help open your airways, reduce inflammation, and improve your ability to breathe.

At MS Family Medicine Health Care, PC, in Mineola, New York, our team, under the medical direction of Dr. Michele Reed, provides comprehensive care for respiratory conditions as part of our primary care services. 

What happens during a respiratory visit? Read on to find out. 

Who needs a respiratory visit

If you have a chronic respiratory condition, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis, regular visits with your primary care physician are essential. 

Symptoms and treatment needs can change over time, and regular visits ensure you receive the most effective and up-to-date care.

You may also benefit from a respiratory visit if you have an acute issue, such as a respiratory infection or allergies causing shortness of breath, wheezing, or fatigue. Prompt evaluation and treatment can help you recover more quickly and prevent complications.

What to expect during your respiratory visit

Your respiratory visit depends on your condition, symptoms, and current treatment plan. However, you can expect a thorough evaluation focused on identifying the cause of your symptoms and creating a plan to address it. 

During your respiratory visit, we:

• Review your symptoms, medical history, and current treatment
• Perform a physical exam
• Listen to your lungs
• Conduct lung tests 
• Request imaging and other diagnostic tests

Using this information, we develop your personalized treatment plan, which may include breathing treatments and inhalers. 

Understanding breathing treatments

Breathing treatments utilize a device called a nebulizer that converts liquid medication into a fine mist that you inhale directly into your lungs. This method allows medication to reach your airways quickly and effectively.

We may provide breathing treatments at the office for immediate symptom relief. More often, treatments are done at home using a portable or tabletop nebulizer. 

During treatment, you breathe in slowly and deeply until the medication is gone, which can take up to 20 minutes. Bronchodilators, corticosteroids, or combination therapies are medications used for breathing treatments. 

Types of inhalers

Inhalers are handheld devices that also deliver medicine directly into the lungs, but don’t require electricity like a nebulizer. Types of inhalers include:

Metered-dose inhalers

Metered-dose inhalers release a pre-portioned dose of medicine in a quick spray. Each puff provides one dose, and the device contains multiple doses.

Dry powder inhalers

Dry powder inhalers contain powdered medicine that you pull into your lungs by taking a quick, deep breath.

Soft mist inhalers

Soft mist inhalers create a slow-moving mist, making it easier to inhale medication effectively, similar to a nebulizer. 

Inhalers may contain bronchodilators, corticosteroids, or a combination of both, depending on your condition and treatment goals. 

Creating your personalized plan

The goal of your respiratory visit is to create a personalized plan that helps you manage your breathing condition. Your plan may include:

• Breathing treatments, inhalers, or both
• Short-acting bronchodilators for quick relief during a flare-up
• Long-acting bronchodilators to prevent flare-ups
• Corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation
• Lifestyle recommendations to support respiratory health

Your plan also outlines how often to use your medications, when to use rescue treatments, and which symptoms signal the need for follow-up care or plan adjustments. 

A respiratory visit at MS Family Medicine Health Care can help you manage both acute and chronic lung conditions. Our goal is to help you breathe easier, now and in the long term. 

If you’re experiencing respiratory symptoms or need support managing your respiratory health, call us today or request an appointment online anytime.