Smart Inhalers and the Next Era of Asthma Management: Key Insights for Patients

Smart Inhalers and the Next Era of Asthma Management: Key Insights for Patients

Asthma is a chronic condition in which the airways become inflamed, narrowing airflow to the lungs. Triggers vary from person to person and may include mold spores and other allergens, irritants, weather changes, heavy exercise, pollution, stress, and foods. Although there’s no cure, effective treatments can reduce the severity of symptoms.

It’s such a common disease that it impacts about 1 in 12 people. In adults, it’s more common in women, but in children, it’s the opposite. About 7.6% more boys have the disease than girls. While it is common, it’s also one of the nation’s most costly diseases. 

• Missed work and school account for about $3 billion in economic losses each year.
• Asthma-related deaths account for $29 billion in yearly economic losses.
• Medical care of adults and children with asthma costs $50.3 billion each year. 

While there is no cure, medical science has advanced. Smart inhalers are making asthma management a lot easier for patients, their families, and their doctors.

What Are Smart Inhalers and How Do They Work?

Before smart inhalers, typical treatment plans involved taking prescribed preventive medications and using an inhaler as directed for quick relief. An asthma care plan includes three levels:

• Green – Take preventative medicines as prescribed.
• Yellow (Caution) – Use your inhaler or rescue medications and call your allergist or doctor.
• Red (Danger) – Go to urgent care or your doctor.

Smart inhalers are a newer option thanks to technological advancements. They’re attachments to your inhaler that track when you use them, your geolocation, and whether you used them correctly. As soon as you push the button, they record data in real time. They then send it to your app and even to your patient record for your doctor to access.

Multiple studies have examined the effectiveness of these digital inhalers. In trials involving 2,483 adults and children, improved asthma control and a lower risk of severe asthma symptoms were the outcomes.

Understanding the Data You Get

A smart inhaler pairs with an app that tracks when the medication is used in real-time. It analyzes your usage, where you are at the time, and identifies patterns to predict when you should take the medication to protect your health and best manage asthma.

You also have reminders that ensure you don’t miss a dose. An estimated 43% of asthma patients don’t take their inhaled medications as prescribed. Digital inhalers can solve that problem with reminders and real-time monitoring.

If you forget to grab your inhaler when leaving your house, the app can notify you. All of this data is shared with your asthma doctor. This makes it easy for a doctor to look at your management and determine when changes are necessary.

The Value in Smart Inhalers for Californians

Nine out of 10 people don’t use their inhaler correctly. This is scary, as the medicine in your inhaler is one of the best ways to prevent severe symptoms. There are four types of inhalers:

• Breath-Actuated – You place the inhaler in your mouth and take a deep, fast breath, which draws the medication from the inhaler into your airways.
• Dry Powder – The medication is a dry powder that you inhale.
• Metered Dose – You push down on the canister as you breathe to get the correct dosage.
• Soft Mist – You prime the inserted cartridge, then administer the medication.

Proper use of your inhaler ensures you receive the correct dosage. If you’re only getting a partial dose, it won’t help resolve your symptoms. A smart inhaler alerts you and your doctor when something isn’t working.

It’s crucial as California’s weather changes from one season to the next. Some of the most significant risks occur during wildfire season. Particulate matter affects the airways and increases the likelihood of asthma attacks. Knowing the air quality index is essential for anyone with asthma. It’s possible to have smart inhaler apps that can tie to AQI data and alert you to spikes.

With the data collected as you use your inhaler, you’ll be able to go to your asthma doctor with confidence. You’ll have data showing your exact inhaler use and what you were doing when you needed it. This allows your doctor to adjust your dosage and ensure that your asthma action plan is tailored to your needs.

Considerations Before Embracing a Specific Smart Inhaler

Technology like a smart inhaler always comes with risks, but they’re manageable. The most apparent one is the security of your PII when data is transmitted. Ask whether the company uses encryption, which is likely, since a breach of medical data would violate HIPAA and could be costly if the doctor or manufacturer of the digital inhaler doesn’t take safety measures to secure your data.

Digital inhalers are not readily available everywhere. The initial model has already been discontinued. Many others are available from companies like CapMedic and Hailie. There are others, but they’re not currently available in the U.S. The sensors work with your inhaler, but only with certain types.

• CapMedic – FDA-approved for metered-dose inhalers and kid-friendly, with a smiley face that talks to the user and alerts you to how long you shook your inhaler, whether you were holding it correctly, how long you breathed in the medication, and whether you pushed the inhaler’s button as you started breathing.
• Hailie – FDA approved for dry powder, metered dose, and others. A different sensor is needed for each inhaler you use.

Verify that your California insurer covers smart inhalers. Many insurers are embracing remote patient monitoring technology. If yours does, it can save you money and help you better manage your health. You may need a prescription or a doctor’s approval for the digital device to be covered.

Keep every appointment you have with your doctor. Better, work with an allergist for modern allergy and asthma treatments. Your allergist and doctor team up to ensure you’re getting the best possible care. It helps develop a comprehensive plan that protects you from asthma attacks that send you to urgent care or the emergency department.

Premium Allergy & Respiratory Center helps Californians find effective asthma treatments. Seek asthma care from Dr. Sabry, an allergy and immunology doctor with more than 15 years of experience caring for children and adults. With the addition of biologics to complement your regular treatments, asthma doesn’t have to keep you indoors and away from the things you enjoy. 

Biologics provide an effective way to train your immune system to respond appropriately to allergens like pet dander and pollen. It’s given as an injection, a dissolvable tablet, or a drop. Schedule an appointment today.