Editing Inhaler (section)

==Medical uses==
Inhalers are designed to deliver medication directly to the lungs through a person's own breathing. This may benefit a patient by providing medicines directly to areas of disease, allowing medication to take a greater effect on its intended target, and limit side effects of medications when administered locally.<ref name=":0" /> Inhalers are used in a variety of different medical conditions with [[Pulmonary diseases|diseases of the lungs]] and [[respiratory system]] being among the most common. Individuals with these diseases/conditions need medications designed to decrease airway inflammation and obstruction to allow for easier and comfortable breathing.<ref name=":1" /> Antibiotic medications have even been developed for inhalers to allow for direct delivery to areas of infection within the lungs.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Vardakas KZ, Voulgaris GL, Samonis G, Falagas ME | title = Inhaled colistin monotherapy for respiratory tract infections in adults without cystic fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents | volume = 51 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–9 | date = January 2018 | pmid = 28669836 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2017.05.016 }}</ref> Two of the most common conditions that warrant inhaler therapy are [[asthma]] and [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]].<ref name=":1">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rothe T, Spagnolo P, Bridevaux PO, Clarenbach C, Eich-Wanger C, Meyer F, Miedinger D, Möller A, Nicod LP, Nicolet-Chatelain G, Sauty A, Steurer-Stey C, Leuppi JD | display-authors = 6 | title = Diagnosis and Management of Asthma - The Swiss Guidelines | journal = Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases | volume = 95 | issue = 5 | pages = 364–380 | date = 2018 | pmid = 29614508 | doi = 10.1159/000486797 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite journal | vauthors = Stolz D, Barandun J, Borer H, Bridevaux PO, Brun P, Brutsche M, Clarenbach C, Eich C, Fiechter R, Frey M, Geiser T, Grob M, Helfenstein E, Junker L, Kohler M, Latshang T, Lechmann A, Maurer M, Nicod L, Quadri F, Schilter D, Sigrist T, Soccal P, Tarr P, Thurnheer R, Turk A, Tamm M | display-authors = 6 | title = Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Stable COPD and Acute Exacerbations of COPD: The Swiss Recommendations 2018 | journal = Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases | volume = 96 | issue = 4 | pages = 382–398 | date = 2018 | pmid = 30138943 | doi = 10.1159/000490551 | s2cid = 52074520 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

===Asthma===

[[Asthma]] is a condition of intermittent [[airway obstruction]] due to [[inflammation|inflammatory]] processes in the lungs. Inhaled medications are used to calm down the inflammation present in the lungs and allow for relief of the airway obstruction. Common inhaled medications used for treatment of asthma include long term inhalational steroidal [[anti-inflammatory drug]]s (most commonly [[inhaled corticosteroid]]s, also called ICS) and fast-relieving bronchodilators such as [[salbutamol]] (known commonly as "Ventolin") and [[salmeterol]]. These medications allow for patients to have relief of airway obstruction symptoms and reduced inflammation.<ref name=":1" /> If some people are unable to use inhalers, [[non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s (NSAIDs) may be used, but with caution since they may cause immunological [[hypersensitivity]] to NSAIDs, resulting in respiratory-related symptoms such as [[bronchospasm]]s, acute [[asthma exacerbation]], and severe asthma morbidity.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lo|first1=Pei-Chia|last2=Tsai|first2=Yueh-Ting|last3=Lin|first3=Shun-Ku|last4=Lai|first4=Jung-Nien|date=14 October 2016|title=Risk of asthma exacerbation associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in childhood asthma|journal=Medicine|volume=95|issue=41|pages=e5109|doi=10.1097/MD.0000000000005109|issn=0025-7974|pmc=5072955|pmid=27741128}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Woo|first1=Seong-Dae|last2=Luu|first2=Quoc Quang|last3=Park|first3=Hae-Sim|date=28 July 2020|title=NSAID-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (NERD): From Pathogenesis to Improved Care|journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology|volume=11|pages=1147|doi=10.3389/fphar.2020.01147|pmid=32848759|pmc=7399220|issn=1663-9812|doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)===

COPD is an obstructive lung disease due to long-term damage to the airways of the lungs. The long-term damage leads to the inability of the airways to open properly, causing [[airway obstruction]]. Inhaled medications allow patients to see improvement in symptoms and better function of daily living. Some commonly used inhaled medications in patient's with COPD are [[Ipratropium bromide|ipratroprium]], [[salmeterol]], and [[corticosteroid]]s.<ref name=":2" /> Inhalers that combine two or three different medications including inhaled corticosteroids, long-active muscarinic medications (LAMA) and long acting beta2 agonists (LABA) for treating COPD may be associated with improvements in some quality of life variables and small improvements in lung function and respiratory symptoms, however, may also be associated with an increase in the risk of pneumonia.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=van Geffen |first1=Wouter H. |last2=Tan |first2=Daniel J. |last3=Walters |first3=Julia Ae |last4=Walters |first4=E. Haydn |date=2023-12-06 |title=Inhaled corticosteroids with combination inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2023 |issue=12 |pages=CD011600 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD011600.pub3 |issn=1469-493X |pmc=10698842 |pmid=38054551}}</ref>