Inhalation therapy for bronchitis and coughs – what you should know

Bronchitis is characterised by a persistent and agonising cough. This cough is triggered by inflammation in the bronchi and the resulting persistent mucus. The mucus can also make it difficult to breathe. Inhalation therapy is the right choice to treat coughs and bronchitis, as the active agents reach where they are needed: the bronchi. If you take expectorants in tablet form, on the other hand, they first have to take a detour through other organs in the body.

If you are inhaling saline solution with a nebulser, their expectorant or soothing effect can ease symptoms directly in the bronchi. The mucus is easier to cough up after inhalation therapy. Which inhalation solution you should use depends on the goal of the treatment:

• Isotonic saline solution for a dry, tickly cough
• Hypertonic saline solution for colds with mucus and sputum

Isotonic saline solution for a dry, tickly cough

Isotonic saline solutions have the same salt content as the fluids in our body (NaCl = 0.9%). This makes it very well suited to moistening the mucous membranes in our airways and thus ease a dry cough.

Hypertonic saline solution for colds with mucus and sputum

Hypertonic saline solution is the ideal choice to treat a cough with mucus and sputum. These symptoms are typical for bronchitis. Hypertonic saline solutions have a salt content higher than 0.9% saline. This helps loosen the mucus better.

How different salt contents act

Steam inhalation is a much-favoured remedy for coughs and bronchitis. Unfortunately, this method is not suitable. With steam inhalation, patients cannot benefit from the mucus-clearing effect of the saline inhalation because the salt does not evaporate with the water, but rather remains in the pot. If this were not the case, it would not be possible to harvest salt by evaporation. Read more about it here: The myth of steam inhalation – why steam does not help for coughs.

Another reason against inhalation of hot steam: The evaporated particles are too large to enter the lungs. They remain stuck in the throat. If you find that steam inhalation, e.g. with essential oils, does you good, it is probably because the heat stimulates the blood flow to the nose and throat. Especially in children, steam inhalation should be avoided because of the risk of scalding.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer as to how long inhalation therapy should take for bronchitis. It depends very much on the inhalation device and the person using it. With the PARI COMPACT2, efficient inhalation therapy with 2.5 ml inhalation solution for coughs and bronchitis takes most users less than 7 minutes.

Inhalation therapy is a sensible treatment for bronchitis, as the active ingredients reach the bronchi directly - provided you use the right inhalation technique. It is best to use a hypertonic saline solution to loosen the mucus. Isotonic saline solution is the right choice for a dry cough. Steam inhalation is not suitable for bronchitis. With an efficient inhalation device, inhalation for bronchitis takes less than 7 minutes.