Technique Over Technology: Rethinking Inhaler Use in Obstructive Airway Disease

Abstract

Obstructive airway diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to be a global problem, causing considerable suffering and using up a lot of healthcare resources. The situation concerning these diseases in Pakistan is made worse by factors such as urban migration, poor air quality, tobacco smoking, and lack of access to well-organized respiratory care. Many patients are living near the limit of inhaled medications because there is no perfect control of their disease. It is a paradox that very good drugs exist, yet poor outcomes persist, which requires a more thorough examination of factors beyond pharmacology. One of these factors is inhaler technique, a crucial, though continuously underrated, factor in the success of the therapy.