Nebulizers

💡TL;DR: For most coughs, start with sterile normal saline (0.9%) in your nebulizer; it hydrates airways and helps loosen mucus with minimal risk. For thick phlegm, hypertonic saline by TruNeb (3% or 7%) can thin secretions but may briefly increase coughing; ask your clinician if you have asthma

💡TL;DR: Yes — you can bring an asthma inhaler on a plane in both carry-on and checked bags; TSA classifies inhalers as medically necessary and exempts them from the 3-1-1 liquids rule. For a smooth trip, keep it in your carry-on for quick access and temperature control, and bring a

💡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: 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: 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: 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

💡TL;DR: Never put essential oils in a medical nebulizer. A nebulizer is for sterile, water-based medicines and saline; oils can damage the device and irritate or inflame your lungs. Strong fragrances and VOCs can trigger symptoms in sensitive people, and rare oil exposure has been linked to lipoid pneumonia;

💡TL;DR: Cystic lung disease is a pattern, not one disease; the most common causes are LAM, PLCH, and Birt–Hogg–Dubé. HRCT is the key test to sort causes, with targeted labs like VEGF-D (LAM) or FLCN genetics (BHD) when needed. Treatment depends on the cause: quitting smoking often