Improving inhaler technique will help asthma and COPD patients to better manage their respiratory health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Health bosses in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) are urging all inhaler users to regularly review how they use and dispose of their inhalers in a bid to improve the effectiveness of the medicines and reduce the impact of used inhalers on the environment.

To support patients to administer their inhaler medication more effectively local respiratory experts have developed a new campaign which includes a seven-step guide that focuses on how patients can improve how their medication is taken and will also reinforce how important having the correct technique is to alleviate an attack, ease symptoms, and prevent requiring emergency hospital treatment.

Dr Anna Murphy, Consultant Respiratory Pharmacist, at the University Hospitals of Leicester and LLR Pharmacy Lead for Integrated Respiratory Care (Honorary) said: “Using an inhaler correctly will make a massive difference to any asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient because it helps to ensure the medicine gets into the lungs, where it’s needed to work. This is important to enable people to manage their lung disease effectively by helping them to cope better with day-to-day symptoms and reduce their risk of having asthma or COPD attacks.

“When you don’t use the right technique, medicine can stick to the back of your throat, tongue, or in your mouth, meaning it will not work as well, and may cause side-effects. This may include a sore mouth or throat, a hoarse voice, or a cough. Some medicines, like salbutamol, can cause tremor, cramps, and increased heart rate when your inhaler technique is not correct. Even if you think your inhaler technique is good, there may still be room for improvement to get more of the medicine deep into your lungs so always check you have the best technique.”

As part of the campaign there is a new dedicated information hub, which features leaflets, videos, and user guides to help patients to get the most from their inhalers and prevent attacks that could otherwise be avoided.

Dr Murphy, adds, “It’s especially important for parents of children with respiratory conditions to support them to know the correct technique, storage, and management of their inhalers. This can be done using any of our resources and we also encourage parents and anyone with a lung disease to regularly book an inhaler review with their community pharmacy or GP practice to make sure that they have the best type of inhaler for their needs and to confirm that their inhaler technique is correct. Regularly checking your inhaler technique and using your inhaler as directed can help to vastly improve lung health by establishing a healthy inhaler routine and preventing an attack. This is especially in the autumn and winter months when the weather becomes colder and there are more viruses such as cold and flu within our communities that can cause lung disease to flare up triggering an attack.”

To further improve how medication is delivered to the lungs and to help protect the environment healthcare professionals in some cases will recommend patients change to an inhaler with a much lower carbon footprint that don’t contain greenhouse gases. Dr Murphy, continues, “If patients have a good inhaler technique with a dry powder inhaler (DPI) or soft mist inhaler (SMI) and are happy to change then healthcare professionals will support this move. Most people can use a DPI or SMI and many people prefer them, as you don’t need to use a spacer like you do with a metered dose inhaler (MDI) “puffer” type. Most DPIs and SMIs also have a dose counter, to help you track how much medication you have left. Remember, looking after your lung condition well is better for you and the environment.”

To support patients to understand their condition and get the most out of their new medication, patients may be invited by their pharmacy to use the New Medicine Service (NMS). The NMS is a free NHS service for people who have received their first prescription for a medicine to treat one of a range of conditions chosen by the NHS, including asthma and COPD.

Patients are also being encouraged to dispose of their inhalers properly to prevent residual greenhouse gases being leaked into the environment. Dr Murphy, concludes, “It’s really important that empty, used, or unwanted inhalers are disposed of properly. Propellant (the gasses) contained within aerosol type inhalers contain powerful greenhouse gases which contribute towards global warming. These gases are safe for inhaler users but harmful to the environment as the left-over gases from canisters are released into the atmosphere. The best way to dispose of inhalers is to take them to your local pharmacy so that they can be disposed of properly. Please don’t put them in with your household waste.”

If every inhaler user in the UK returned all their aerosol type inhalers for one year, this could save 512,330 tonnes of CO2eq – the same as a VW Golf car being driven around the world 88,606 times.

For more information and to access any of the resources available as part of the campaign please visit: www.leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/inhalers/