Digital Inhalers - Benefits and Drawbacks

What Are Digital Inhalers?

Breathing devices called digital inhalers can be connected to devices so that a patient's health status can be monitored continuously. These are especially beneficial for those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other respiratory illnesses, such as asthma. These inhalers have sensors that alert the user when to take their medications. Microelectronics and electromechanical sensors are used in digital inhaler healthcare systems to track inhaler administration. Bluetooth can be used by digital inhalers to detect when they are being used, to remind users to take their medications, and to gather data for clinical use. These inhalers can help patients take their asthma medications more consistently and keep their condition under control, but for them to work, they need to be made with individuals and health systems in mind. However, this is a more recent technology, and it requires more research and clinical trials. These devices are universally approved, but research is still being conducted to ascertain whether the advantages of digital inhalers outweigh the disadvantages.

How Do Digital Inhalers Work?

Patients and doctors can manage respiratory problems with the aid of digital inhalers. Mobile apps connected to these digital inhalers control the dosage and timing of medications. Some digital inhalers feature sensors that can determine whether the user is in an area with high levels of pollution or pollen, send them helpful reminders, and determine whether the user needs to check their inhaler technique.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Digital Inhaler?

There are numerous benefits of using digital inhalers, including the following:

• Patients and doctors can manage respiratory problems with the aid of digital inhalers.

• It helps in the Constant monitoring of patients' health.

• Regularizes medications and avoids missing doses. Mobile apps connected to digital inhalers control the dosage and timing of medications.

• Empowers the patients to monitor their respiratory health and lowers the risk of flare-ups.

• Ensures the patient uses the inhaler correctly, inhales more medication, and minimizes potential side effects.

• Improves the prognosis of COPD, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. Studies have shown that exacerbations could be reduced by 25 percent to 30 percent if all COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients have taken their medications exactly as prescribed.

• The ability to issue dosage reminders, track adherence, properly record the time, date, and location of each dose delivered, and access readily shareable data via Bluetooth are all features of digital inhalers.

• Digital inhalers can detect triggers like pollution or pollen and warn the patient against them. Therefore, preventing flare-ups and reducing symptoms.

• Digital inhalers also monitor the inhaler technique and assist the patient if they are taking their inhalers in the wrong way.

• Compliance may increase if patients are informed of monitoring.

• Increased patient motivation and involvement in the treatment.

Will Doctors Become Obsolete Due to Digital Inhalers?

Patients are able to plan their medication dosages with the help of digital inhalers. Thanks to modern technology, patients may easily and rapidly get information online concerning their conditions. However, this does not mean that patients will not require a doctor or physician's consultation and guidance. Digital inhalers or other advanced healthcare technology may be easy and efficient, but it requires specificity for each individual. While being monitored on digital inhalers, if a patient needs rescue or reliever medication more than twice per week, the treatment is insufficient. This means that the person's preventative measures should be reconsidered, the patient should be taught how to use the inhaler properly, or trigger factors like a new dog, cigarettes, or pollutants should be investigated. As a result, patients taking medication for asthma or another respiratory condition may need to visit a doctor for the right diagnosis and care.

What Are the Drawbacks of Using a Digital Inhaler?

The drawbacks or cons of using a digital inhaler are as follows:

• Electronic monitoring devices' efficacy has not been proven according to existing data.

• Many patients do not like being monitored all the time.

• A patient's typical inhaling method might be hampered by a digital inhaler, or some spacers might not work with it.

• For patients who use many inhalers, an electronic monitoring device for every inhaler can be necessary.

• The device's accuracy, dependability, and potential technological problems are unknown.

• Digital inhales are not cost-effective.

Conclusion:

In order to provide patients and healthcare professionals with tools for managing respiratory disorders, pharmacists will need to establish foundational expertise in the use of digital technology as the market for digital inhalers expands. However, before they can be extensively adopted in practice, strategies for managing respiratory disorders using digital inhalers need to be backed by clinical studies. Moreover, it should be created as a system that is cost-effective and reflect the demands of patients and medical professionals.