Inhalers are handheld, portable devices that deliver medication directly to the lungs. Inhalers are the main way in which asthma is treated, because they target the problem area, the bronchioles (small airways) in the lungs, where the inflammation actually occurs. They are quick, effective, and very easy to use.

Inhalers are classified by the type of medication they deliver. Some inhalers contain preventer medications which are for the long term treatment of asthma. They reduce the swelling in the airways and have to be taken regularly, usually daily, whether the symptoms of asthma are manifesting or not. Patients cannot skip this treatment just because they haven’t had an attack in a while, because most likely the reason they haven’t had an attack is the preventer medication.

Rescue or reliever inhalers are a quick and effective treatment for the symptoms of asthma themselves. They are used during an asthma attack, as emergency medication. They relax the muscles that tighten in the airways during the attack, preventing constriction and helping the patient breathe better. If the controller inhaler is being used regularly, then the need for the rescue inhaler diminishes. Rescue inhalers should not be used often, because repeated use can give rise to unwanted side effects.