That's Fit

I keep an albuterol inhaler in my bedroom and another in my purse. That way, I figure I'm covered if I have an asthma attack. One of my inhalers is an old, generic, CFC (chloroflourocarbon) type that has yet to hit its expiration date, while the other is ProAir, a CFC-free HFA inhaler. If I have an attack at home, I always reach for the older, CFC inhaler. Why? Because it feels like it works better.

According to the NYT, I'm not alone. Though I'm all for changes being made to improve the environment (CFCs destroy the ozone layer), I'll admit that transitioning to CFC-free inhalers hasn't been easy. HFA inhalers (like ProAir and Ventolin) have a softer spray, which can lead people to believe they aren't working. (Studies show they work just as well as CFC type inhalers.) They are also more expensive because there are not yet generics available.

But by the first of next year, CFC type inhalers will officially be banned. Like it or not, fellow asthmatics, we need to get used to these new fangled inhalers once and for all.

So if you have asthma and use an albuterol inhaler, here are a few tips for making your transition to an HFA inhaler a smooth one:

• Pump your inhaler to prime it before use. Read the directions for your specific inhaler for more information.
• Take a long, slow, deep breath when inhaling the medication.
• Wait 30 seconds between puffs.
• Wash your inhaler casing once a week in warm soapy water and let it air dry before reinserting the canister. HFA inhalers are "stickier" than CFC type and can get clogged, reducing the delivery of medication.

As always, if your emergency medication doesn't seem to be improving your symptoms, get thyself to an ER pronto.