Before learning how to use a nebulizer, you should know what a nebulizer is. A nebulizer is a breathing device that facilitates better inhalation of medicines that are meant for treating respiratory diseases. It converts a liquid medicine into a fine mist for easy intake by the sufferers. Nebulizer therapy is ideal for treating people of all ages, from infants to adults. Medical conditions like asthma and other lung diseases such as bronchiectasis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), chronic obstructive pulmonary dysplasia (COPD), and cystic fibrosis can be better treated well with nebulizers.
Types of medicines given with nebulizers:
Antibiotics – To fight lung infections caused by bacteria.

Bronchodilators – To eliminate body reflexes that make your airways smaller.
Corticosteroids – To minimize the inflammation in you airways.
Prostanoids – To relax blood vessels and enhance the flow of blood and oxygen.
Benefits of using a nebulizer:
Nebulizer is a great medical device for people of all ages. Unlike other medical equipment, nebulizers allow you to combine medicines and inhale at the same time. You can even use very high doses for treatment. The medicine is delivered to you during normal breathing, and there is no need for special breathing techniques to use a nebulizer.
How to use a nebulizer:
Wash your hands.
Look whether the compressor machine is clean. If it is not, then rinse it with cold water and leave it to dry. Plug in the machine to an electrical outlet.
Prepare the medicine to be inhaled. If the medicine is pre-mixed, then just open and place it in the medicine container of the nebulizer machine.
If you need to mix medicines, then you need to place the exact amount of medicine into the medicine container with the help of a dropper or syringe.
If your medicines require sterile normal saline, then add to it. It is not recommended to use home-made saline into the nebulizer.
Then attach the nebulizer medicine container to the tubing, which is connected to the compressor machine.
Attach the delivery piece to the medicine container. If you are an adult or grown up children, then place the mouth piece in your mouth to breathe in and out, until all the medicine gets over. For infants and younger children, you are required to place the mask on their face.
Switch on the machine and keep the medicine container in straight-up position.
On completion of the process, you need to tap the sides of the container, so that the lasts of the medicine will move down to the air jet that is to be misted.
When no medicine remains and there is no more mist coming out, you are done with the treatment.
How to take care of a nebulizer?
Wash the container and the delivery piece with hot water. Dish washing detergent can be used for the cleaning purpose.
Look whether any mucus or medicine is stuck in the machine or tubing. If you find any, clean it immediately.
Shake the machine for excess water and let it dry.
Soak the parts of nebulizer in diluted white vinegar or the disinfecting solution to get rid of germs. Ojmedical.com is a good online medical supply store where you can buy portable nebulizers.