The beginning of winter is eternal romance: couples cuddling up to each other in a vain attempt to keep warm, the first snowstorms, frost on the eyelashes and a cough that comes from all sides. In order not to succumb to the epidemic string of diseases, it is still better to understand in advance how to counter these winter “trends” in the form of respiratory diseases.
Nebulizers come to the rescue here. It was they who replaced the pots with potato broth, with the help of which our grandmothers so touchingly treated coughs.
There are a lot of nebulizers on the Internet, here you can’t do without a cheat sheet. They differ in terms of how they work, in terms of ease of use, and in price, and most importantly, in terms of what drugs they can be compatible with.
The closest thing to the ill-fated pans are steam nebulizers. Although even in this case, the efficiency is clearly superior to the old-fashioned method. The medicine here only enters the upper parts of the nasopharynx, so devices of this type are suitable for the treatment of a limited number of diseases.
The most common type of nebulizers can be safely called compressor. Such devices are constant winners in the category “price – quality”. In addition, ultrasonic and mesh nebulizers are also on the market. We will also talk about them in detail in this analysis.
Top 10 rating according to KP
Choice of Experts
1. Omron Comp Air NE-C28
Serious Japanese, working on the compressor principle, suitable for both home and professional use.
Good for absolutely everything: quality characteristics (when choosing a nebulizer, it is important to pay attention to the average particle size into which the drug is broken down and the speed of their spraying), and reliability, and ease of use, and, of course, the price.
It is difficult to argue with Japanese practicality: all the contact parts of the device can be easily removed and disinfected, the inhalation chamber is quite large, and a bag for carrying and storing equipment is included.
Of the minuses: None of the compressor nebulizers can boast of silence during operation, but here the noise level is still above average. In addition, this device is quite heavy (the weight declared by the manufacturer is 1,9 kg), so it is not necessary to consider it as a mobile option for pickup.
2. B.Well WN-112 K
A feature of this nebulizer is a breath-activated chamber and a long hose connected to the device. In fact, this allows the patient to be in a convenient place for him and in a comfortable position. The noise level in this case is also not so important. Such an indicator as particle size is also worthy here, so B.Well may well become a lifesaver. Moreover, the economy class, for this miracle you do not have to overpay.
Of the minuses: The flow rate of this nebulizer is not the highest, which suggests that the effectiveness in the fight against complex diseases can be reduced, although it will cope with ARVI, acute respiratory infections and allergies with a bang. In addition, the device has a limited operating time of 30 minutes, sometimes this figure, alas, is not enough.
3. Flaem Nuova Dolphin F1000
Surely not everyone knows the Italian brand Flaem Nuova, but believe me, behind these words there is actually a hundred-year history of the production of medical equipment. This compressor inhaler is equipped with virtually everything you need. There is an abundance of various nozzles, and, importantly, the adjustment of the level of particles.
Of the minuses: this nebulizer is quite heavy (2.1 kg) so it should be considered as a good stationary option.
4. Berdsk Chamomile-2
If your option is “cheap and cheerful”, then you should take a closer look at this steam inhaler. He will cope with a cold for sure, in addition, it can be used for cosmetic procedures. It is simple and reliable in use; any herbal decoctions are suitable for it as medicines.
Of the minuses: steam inhalers are not suitable for the treatment of all diseases, plus you need to remember that it is better not to let a person with cardiovascular diseases near him for a cannon shot.
5. AND UN-232
This ultrasonic beauty is reliable, quite quiet and compact. But like any nebulizer of this type, it is far from compatible with all types of drugs, this is the main difficulty when choosing an ultrasound machine. But at the same time, there are a lot of pluses on the face: both good indicators of the average particle size, and excellent speed, and ease of care and disinfection. Another feature of this device can safely be called the possibility of heating drugs and water for thermal inhalation. This is just for those who, with a runny nose and viral diseases, choose old school with nostalgia.
Of the minuses: This nebulizer does not have a hose, so inhalations can only be done at the table. Alas, it will not work to get comfortable in a chair with a book.
6. Medisana USC 541005.0
Another Japanese in our review. This ultrasonic nebulizer is truly pocket-sized: its weight is only 300 grams, it runs on 4 AA batteries. Agree, this is just a story about the fact that inhalation can be done everywhere: both on the road and on a walk. What could be more convenient?
Of the minuses: due to the compactness of the device, manufacturers had to give up the time of continuous use. It is limited to 15 minutes.
7. Omron Micro Air NE-U22
Mesh nebulizers are portable and silent. This perfect combination, of course, captivates anyone. This device, for example, weighs only 97 grams, it can work both from the mains and from batteries. In addition, the NE-U22 has a continuous use time of two hours, which is significantly longer than devices with similar characteristics. If you are looking for a nebulizer and you don’t care how much it costs, trust me – this is the perfect option.
Of the minuses: price only. Mesh nebulizers are the most expensive devices on the market and it is up to you to decide whether you are willing to pay so much for convenience.
8. AND UN-233AC-M
This device may well compete with a colleague Omron. In terms of portability and convenience, it is in no way inferior to it. But on the other hand, it wins in price, on average in the market, this baby is 2-2,5 times cheaper. Therefore, if you choose a device that will lie on the far top shelf and be used from time to time, AND may well become one.
Of the minuses: not a high particle flow rate, and therefore, in some cases, not too high efficiency.
9. Little Doctor LD-207U
Another inexpensive colleague, the Little Doctor mesh nebulizer is also quite convenient and easy to use. This model has the ability to work both autonomously and from the network, it is quite light and silent. A set of batteries is enough for about 6-10 full-fledged inhalations – so this nebulizer may well win in the nomination of the best travel option. In addition, the device can be tilted at an angle of 45 degrees, which allows inhalation even while lying down.
Of the minuses: AC adapter must be purchased separately.
10. Xiaomi Andon VP-M3A.0
First, the guys from Xiaomi took up phones, then laptops, then vacuum cleaners, and now medical equipment. I must say they were everywhere waiting for a resounding success. So when developing a nebulizer, they were able to take into account all the wishes of customers and made a stylish, silent, compact device that, at a low price, has better characteristics than other market giants.
Of the minuses: here except that you can talk about distrust of the brand. But how fair this assessment is is up to you.
How to choose a nebulizer for adults
When choosing a nebulizer, you should focus on five main indicators: particle size, flow rate, ease of use, its size and price. Not always good performance of the device, its compactness and ease of care correlate with ideas about the average wallet. And here you already have to choose, if you are looking for a device for the home, and mobility is not important for you and you are comfortable carrying out the procedure without paying attention to noise, then you should definitely give preference to compressor devices. Most of these are on the market.
Expert Opinion
Every family faces the problem of respiratory diseases. Children of preschool and school age are especially often sick, but adults are not immune from this either. When the course of the disease is prolonged and complicated, the infection descends into the lower respiratory tract. It is no longer so easy to get to the disease with drugs, and in these cases we often prescribe inhaled drugs to patients using a nebulizer. This apparatus is also required for the treatment of patients with chronic diseases, such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, ”explains Tatyana Stepanova, physician-therapist of the Clinic of Modern Medicine of the IAKI.
– What are the principles of operation of nebulizers? They are ultrasonic, in such devices the splitting of the drug solution and its transformation into an aerosol occurs under the influence of ultrasound, depending on the intensity of the ultrasound, the speed and volume of the spray of the drug changes. The negative aspect of the work of these nebulizers is the limited choice of drugs.
There are also mesh nebulizers. The principle of action there is also based on ultrasound, but there its action is directed not directly at the drug, but at the mesh membrane. When it starts to move, the active substance turns into an aerosol. The disadvantages include the high cost and the need for thorough washing, which is not always convenient.
There are also compressor nebulizers in which an aerosol is formed by splitting the drug with a powerful jet of air, this powerful jet is created by the compressor. Experts regard this type of nebulizer as the most reliable, when using such devices, the loss of the drug solution is minimal, and only noise is noted as an inconvenience, the expert continues.
– Inhalations through a nebulizer are prescribed for various diseases: for laryngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, etc. In addition, inhalations with a nebulizer are necessary for the prevention of pneumonia in the postoperative period. But like any therapy, inhalations have their own contraindications, including allergies, pneumothorax, bleeding, and emphysema. So you can’t do without a doctor’s consultation here,” Tatyana Stepanova sums up.