A Breath of Fresh Air

💡TL;DR: Prime new metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) with 2–4 test sprays and re-prime after about 1–2 weeks of no use or if dropped so the first dose contains medication. Skipping priming can make the first puff mostly propellant with little or no medicine. Dry powder inhalers (Diskus, Ellipta)

💡TL;DR: Yes—pneumonia can cause back pain when inflamed lung linings (pleurisy) make each deep breath or cough painful. The pain is usually sharp in the upper or mid‑back and occurs with cough, fever, and shortness of breath. About 1 million U.S. adults are hospitalized for pneumonia

💡TL;DR: Yes, you can vest during Pulmozyme to save time, and many CF clinics allow it; optimal: take Pulmozyme first and start airway clearance about 20–30 minutes later. A typical regimen is bronchodilator → hypertonic saline → Pulmozyme → airway clearance, with inhaled antibiotics last. Pulmozyme is usually 2.5 mg

💡TL;DR: Most MDIs keep spraying propellant even when the medicine is gone, so you can’t tell by sight, sound, taste, or shaking. Check a built‑in dose counter (zero means empty) or track your puffs: many rescue inhalers have 200 doses and many controllers have 120. Replace before

💡TL;DR: Yes, you can use a nebulizer with oxygen; they do different jobs and are often used together. If you already use oxygen, keep your nasal cannula on during treatment or use oxygen to power the nebulizer at 6–8 L/min for a proper mist. Exception: some people

💡TL;DR: Yes — you can do most pulmonary rehab at home with daily breathing practice, regular walking, and simple strength exercises; evidence shows home programs can achieve similar benefits (Cochrane) to center-based rehab when done consistently. Build toward 20–30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days plus strength training

💡TL;DR: Most people feel better within a few days of starting blood thinners, but full recovery typically takes weeks to a few months and can take 6–12 months after severe events. Expect to take anticoagulants for at least 3 months; they prevent new clots while your body slowly

💡TL;DR: Fastest relief: combine postural drainage, gentle clapping, and huff coughing to move mucus now. Add warm steam and steady fluids to thin mucus; you can often feel movement within minutes when you hold positions for 5–10 minutes per side and do 2–3 huffs before a cough.

💡TL;DR: Nebulizers can relieve wheezing and chest tightness during wildfire smoke by delivering bronchodilators, but they do not remove smoke particles or clean the air. Your best defense is exposure reduction: stay indoors with a HEPA purifier and wear a well-fitted N95 outdoors. For many, a quick-relief inhaler with