Danielle Chase

💡TL;DR: No — do not leave inhalers in a cold car. Most inhalers are designed for room temperature 59–86°F (15–30°C); at ≤32°F (0°C) the spray can be weak or fail. If it was briefly above freezing, let it warm to room temperature and release

💡TL;DR: Clean pressurized metered‑dose inhalers once a week: remove the metal canister, rinse the plastic mouthpiece under warm water for 30–60 seconds, and air‑dry completely before reassembly. Dry powder inhalers should not be rinsed; wipe the mouthpiece dry and keep the device closed between uses. Soft‑

💡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