New Airsupra inhaler!

 Many people have been waiting for years for this new Albuterol inhaler! 

What makes this inhaler such a big deal?

This new inhaler has TWO medicines in it:

1. Albuterol- this medicine helps relax the smooth muscle bands that wrap around the outside of the small airways in the lungs

2. Budesonide - this medicine is a corticosteroid (works like an anti-inflammatory) to reduce the swelling in the lungs

The reason this is important is that most people rely on an Albuterol inhaler when they have an asthma attack, but it's only a Bandaid approach (because it doesn't help the swelling in the lungs)

If you are still confused

Here's a low cost visual aid I use for patients

Normal Airways

The left side of the photo is a paper towel tube, wrapped in pink craft paper. It shows what it is like to breathe when our airways are open - there is a LOT of room to breathe through that tube! 

Notice the rubber bands around the outside? Those show what the smooth muscles look like. When our lungs are happy, they just support the airway.

Airways with asthma  

The right side of the photo shows what it's like to try to breathe through a pool noodle. See how thick the sides of the pool noodle are? That what happens to our lungs when they swell. They swell from the inside, making the opening of the airway narrow. The narrow airway then swells with mucus (shown by the plastic wrap)

Notice the rubber bands around the outside? That's shows how the smooth muscle bands shorten and tighten when you have an asthma attack or are sick.

When we use Albuterol, it relaxes the smooth muscle bands 

But Albuterol won't fix the swelling inside the airways (like the pool noodle) 

Airsupra

Using this new inhaler will help two things at once. Relax the smooth muscles around the outside of the airway. Then reduce the swelling inside the airways. 

Win win!

Ask your Dr if it's right for you!