Asthmaniac: Bringing patients the facts of asthma control.

What is an MDI Spacer and Why Do You Need One? * A spacer is needed to hold your asthma medicine in a cloud until you can pull it into your lungs with a deep breath. * If you don’t use a spacer with your asthma medicine, it ends up on tongue and on the walls of your throat where it can’t help your asthma and usually causes a yeast infection. * Spacers should be used with all of your asthma medicine that comes in a metered dose inhaler (MDI). * Medicine administered by a dry powder inhaler does not require a spacer since the design of the inhaler stirs and suspends the dry powder particles so they can be inhaled deeply.   In order for asthma medication to reach the lining of your breathing tubes, it must be suspended in the air you inhale. Most asthma medication is manufactured in liquid form. It is contained in a pressurized canister called a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI). When this canister is triggered, it converts the medication to an aerosol mist. This mist is inhaled by you to carry the medicine to the lining of your breathing tubes. For years, you may have been holding your MDI up to your lips while inhaling, believing the medicine is actually getting into your lungs. Unfortunately, most of the medicine lands on the walls of your mouth, throat and tongue. It cannot help your breathing if it does not get deeper into your breathing tubes. There is an inexpensive and effective solution to this problem. It is called a spacer. A spacer is a tubular chamber that plugs onto the MDI. On one end it has a mouthpiece or mask, with a built-in valve. When you trigger the MDI, the spacer holds your medicine suspended as a cloud. This cloud hangs in the spacer chamber until you inhale from the mouthpiece end. Because the medicine is suspended, it flows with the air you inhale down into your lungs where we really need to get it. The valve keeps the “cloud” of medicine in the chamber, permitting it to go ONLY one way, down into your lungs. Quite often, patients ask if they can use a nebulizer to deliver their asthma medication. Once they were miniaturized in the 1970’s, nebulizers became quite popular as a way to administer asthma medicine. They do have many limitations though. The biggest problem is that they don’t fit in your pocket. That means when you need your medication, but don’t have a nebulizer, you’ll be in trouble. Most nebulizers depend on AC or battery power which may not be available to you when you feel your asthma kicking in. They also require tubing to transmit compressed air to the medicine chamber. And, there are many parts to keep track of and clean. In comparison, the spacer is simple, portable, and easily replaced if you lose it. And, most importantly, research conducted in the past 5 years shows that the amount of medicine reaching your lungs and breathing tubes is higher when you use a spacer than with a nebulizer. My asthma patients depend on their spacers, both for their rescue medicine and for their controllers. Where do you get one? A prescription of course! I will order a spacer for each of my patients using an MDI medication. #asthmacontrolnow#telemedicineasthmacare#backpocketasthmadoc#asthmaactionplan#asthmacontroltest#asthmacontroller#rescueinhaler#asthmacovid19#childrenandasthma#eprescription#easthma#peakexpiratoryflow#peakflowmeter#asthmaniac You can get your spacer sent to the pharmacy of your choice after your asthma consultation. Breathe better TODAY! Get Your Spacer! 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Oct 12, 2025 | Action Plan, Control Your Asthma!, controllers, PEF, symptomsSMART Therapy: A Smarter Way to Manage Your Asthma If you’re living with asthma, you know it’s more than just “a little wheeze.” It can disrupt your sleep, slow you down, and—at its worst—land you in the ER. That’s why it’s so important to find the right... What is an MDI Spacer and Why Do You Need One? Oct 12, 2025 | spacer* A spacer is needed to hold your asthma medicine in a cloud until you can pull it into your lungs with a deep breath. * If you don’t use a spacer with your asthma medicine, it ends up on tongue and on the walls of your throat where it can’t help your asthma and usually causes a yeast infection. * Spacers should be used with all of your asthma medicine that comes in a metered dose inhaler (MDI). * Medicine administered by a dry powder inhaler does not require a spacer since the design of the inhaler stirs and suspends the dry powder particles so they can be inhaled deeply. Do You Need an Asthma Controller Medication? Oct 12, 2025 | controllers* Asthma controllers are medications that “control” the underlying inflammation in your breathing tubes. * Inhaled corticosteroids are the most common type of medicine used for this purpose. * In order for corticosteroids to work, they have to be inhaled... Asthmaniac Uses ePrescriptions for Your Medicine! Oct 12, 2025 | Action Plan, Control Your Asthma!, PEF, symptoms* Electronic prescriptions mean: ..More accuracy in the order, ..More convenience for you, ..No paper to lose, and ..It’s FAST! * Asthmaniac sends all orders for prescription medication to the pharmacy of your choice.   Asthma is one disease that... Asthma Rescue Inhalers Are Crucial in Asthma Control! Oct 12, 2025 | rescue What is a Rescue Inhaler? * Rescue inhalers are an essential tool in responding to your asthma! * The albuterol in rescue inhalers opens breathing tubes quickly. * If it doesn’t quickly improve your breathing, go to the ER. * A spacer should be used with... « Older Entries

* Electronic prescriptions mean: ..More accuracy in the order, ..More convenience for you, ..No paper to lose, and ..It’s FAST! * Asthmaniac sends all orders for prescription medication to the pharmacy of your choice.

What is Asthmaniac and why do you need it? I'm Dr. Tim Ryschon and I have an asthma solution for you. * asthmaniac.com is my online asthma clinic * Asthmaniac is designed to be affordable, convenient, and reliable. * Asthmaniac follows national quality standards developed at NIH * Asthmaniac uses your phone to make your care convenient and engaging

✓ You Need State-of-the-Art Asthma Care ✘ Traditional Clinics provide inconsistent care. ✘ And, they are expensive and inconvenient! ????Asthmaniac was made for you! ????Affordable doctor visits ✓ State-of-the-Art Asthma Care ✓ All online!

Why do we use steroids in asthma? * Inflammation of the airways is the underlying problem in asthma * Steroids like Prednisone and Decadron are taken by mouth * Steroids like betamethasone and fluticasone are inhaled like albuterol. * Steroids are used to control inflammation in asthma * Lung inflammation in moderate asthma can be controlled but not cured.

* Your Asthma Action Plan is your quick-reference guide for how to react to changes in your breathing. * Your plan uses your Peak Expiratory Flow readings and your ACT scores to determine if your asthma is in control. * Your Asthma Action Plan clearly instructs you what to do when your symptoms flare up or your Peak Expiratory Flow is dropping. * This allows you to take action with additional medication that I have ordered for you to stop your wheezing from becoming a full-blown asthma attack. * Just to make sure you know your plan and where it is, I send it to your by text or email so you can keep it right on your phone!

* Peak Expiratory Flow is measured by you, several times a week using a small pocket-sized flowmeter * You record the number measured by this device. * This number shows how well you are able to exhale and tells me if we have your lung inflammation under control * When this number starts edging down over a few days, we know it's time to take action before you start to feel symptoms of chest tightness, shortness of breath or actual wheezing. * I use Peak Expiratory Flow measurements and ACT scores in your Asthma Action Plan to help guide you in responding to changes in your lungs.

* Follow-up Care is Essential to good asthma control. * Follow-up allows determination of asthma severity. * Other disorders that affect your breathing are detected early. * Rescue medication refills are provided * Your Asthma Action Plan is updated.

✓ No Insurance ⇨ Active asthma ???? Asthmaniac was made for you! ???? Affordable $50 doctor visits ✓ State-of-the-Art Asthma Care ???? All online!

Affordability is Important for Asthma Control * The cost of asthma control can be a barrier: * Many costs of asthma care can exceed what those without insurance can afford. These include: * The cost of asthma medication. * The cost of doctor visits * The cost pulmonary function testing.

* Electronic prescriptions mean: ..More accuracy in the order, ..More convenience for you, ..No paper to lose, and ..It’s FAST! * Asthmaniac sends all orders for prescription medication to the pharmacy of your choice.

✓ No Insurance ⇨ Active asthma ???? Asthmaniac was made for you! ???? Affordable $50 doctor visits ✓ State-of-the-Art Asthma Care ???? All online!

Asthmaniac.com delivers asthma primary care, online, on your phone, putting the tools for asthma control in your back pocket!