Before assisting with an inhaler, which step should you take?

• A. Have the patient exhale deeply first, then hold breath as long as possible
• B. Instruct patient to inhale as quickly as possible
• C. Place spacer after inhalation
• D. Tilt the head back and swallow

Answer: (A)

The step you want to take first is to have the patient exhale deeply before inhaling. Emptying the lungs creates space for a fuller, slower inhalation when the inhaler is actuated, which helps the medication reach deeper into the airways rather than being exhaled immediately. After the dose is released, the patient should hold their breath for several seconds to give the medication time to deposit in the lungs. This sequence—deep exhale first, then a slow deep inhale with breath-hold—maximizes delivery. Inhaling quickly, placing a spacer after inhalation, or tilting the head back to swallow do not support effective inhaler use.