When Nebulizers Need To Be Fun

Kids with asthma don’t always have the easiest time getting used to nebulizers. Here are two of our favorite ways to make the process a little easier for them.


The Children's Friendly Penguin Design Compressor Nebulizer System has a very child friendly design, operates with a low noise level, and is very easy to use. It comes with Tubing, Pediatric Mask, and free Pacifier Attachment to ensure your child's comfort during treatment. And it’s so cute!



The Lion Who Had Asthma by Jonathan London is the story of a preschool boy who has a freewheeling imagination, supportive parents, asthma, a nebulizer and a life that works well. For children who have asthma, or know someone who has it, this cheerful book should be reassuring.

Top 10 Cities for Nebulizer Machines (Part I)

Some people think asthma is black and white — you either have it or you don't. But asthma symptoms can vary dramatically by external factors such as location and lifestyle, which can affect a patient's need for inhalers, nebulizer machines, and other respiratory supplies.

Let's take a look at the top 10 cities from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's (AAFA) “2010 Asthma Capitals” list:

10. Atlanta: The AAFA's no. 1 worst city in 2007, Atlanta has improved over the last couple of years, but still suffers from poor air quality, loose legislation on smoking, and an insufficient number of doctors specializing in asthma.

9. Augusta, Ga.: A hotspot for allergy-inducing pollen, Augusta is all the worse for its widespread poverty, high death rates related to asthma, and inadequate smoking laws.

8. Philadelphia: Philly is actually ahead of the game when it comes to smoke-free legislation, but the city's poverty rate and pollen score still landed it on this year's top 10 list.

7. Tulsa, Okla.: Even though it's dry, Tulsa has a surprisingly high pollen count, along with a high number of asthma patients and asthma-related deaths.

6. Memphis, Tenn.: If you have asthma in Memphis, you definitely need a nebulizer machine. This southern city has worse-than-average air quality and poverty rates, without many restrictions on public smoking.

Your Nebulizer Machine Checklist

If you're thinking about treating your breathing problems with a nebulizer machine, it's important to understand the different types of respiratory supplies you have to choose from.

Let's take a look at some common varieties of nebulizers and accessories:

Home Nebulizer Machines: Also called tabletop nebulizers, these models tend to be larger than portable nebulizers and are usually powered by a cord connected to an electrical outlet. These are typically the most affordable nebulizers.

Travel Nebulizer Machines: Made for patients with on-the-go lifestyles, portable nebulizers are more compact (and often more expensive) than their corded counterparts. Portable nebulizers are powered by rechargeable batteries and come with AC or DC adaptors.

Children's Nebulizer Machines: To make using nebulizers more pleasant for children, nebulizer machines and masks are available in a variety of whimsical designs, from pandas to dragons to fire trucks.

Accessories for Nebulizer Machines: Nebulizer machine accessories include replacement supplies like cups, masks, filters, tubing, and mouthpieces, which are sometimes available in kits for added savings. Additionally, patients preferring travel nebulizers frequently invest in carrying cases for their portable machines.

The Unsung Benefits of Respiratory Supplies

With so many serious health risks to consider, it's easy to discount the social and personal consequences of untreated sleep apnea. But sleep apnea doesn't just mess up your body — it messes up your entire life. That's why respiratory supplies are so important.

Many sleep apnea patients experience several apneas (lapses in breathing) every night, even if they don't remember them in the morning. And, as you might expect, interruptions in sleep can leave sleep apnea patients exhausted during the daytime, affecting both mood and level and productivity. It could cost you a promotion, or even a relationship.

How? The irritability, apathy, and lethargy associated with sleep apnea are socially isolating and can wreak havoc on personal relationships. These changes in mood are medical symptoms, but friends and loved ones do not always appreciate them as such. Worse, the daytime drowsiness caused by sleep apnea and other disorders is a leading contributor to car accidents and fatalities.

To avoid these detrimental effects, doctors recommend respiratory supplies like CPAP machines and masks to keep the airway open, thus preventing apneas and allowing for a good night's sleep.

Fisher & Paykel CPAP Machines: SleepStyle 608

Sleep apnea patients have come to expect great things from Fisher & Paykel respiratory supplies, and the SleepStyle 608 does not disappoint. This CPAP machine features a built-in humidifier with state-of-the-art technology, allowing patients to receive optimum levels of both moisture and heat.

How does it work? The SleepStyle 608 is designed with special heated tubing to prevent the loss of heat and moisture as air travels from machine to mask. Standard tubing allows condensation to build up, thus decreasing the level of humidity that the patient receives.

This technology is especially useful for patients experiencing mouth leaks, which can lead to dryness, irritation, and pain relating to increased resistance in the nasal airway. Fortunately, the SleepStyle 608's special heated tubing actually prevents nasal resistance, so that patients can sleep comfortably, even during mouth leaks.

Best of all, SleepStyle 608 CPAP machines can work in any kind of environment, as the machine will automatically adjust to changes in altitude. They are also compatible with a variety of voltage currents, making them great for travelers.

Our Favorite Respironics CPAP Masks

It’s hard to talk about respiratory supplies without talking about Phillips Respironics, one of the top manufacturers in the industry. Let’s take a look at three exceptional Respironics CPAP masks.

Respironics Comfort Full 2 Full Face CPAP Mask
This mask lives up to its name, providing full face coverage without sacrificing comfort. The product is lightweight and forms a solid seal, affording patients who breathe through the mouth the best in CPAP care.

Simplicity Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
This compact nasal mask touches to top of the nose – not the bridge – so that patients can wear glasses while using CPAP respiratory supplies. But even patients without glasses will enjoy this product’s convenient size and high level of comfort.

Total CPAP Face Mask with Headgear
Compatible with both bi-level and CPAP machines, this mask provides a noninvasive alternative to other styles. It’s ideal for patients that have experienced skin irritation or had trouble forming a seal with nasal masks, in addition to claustrophobic patients. As a full face mask, this product does not create painful pressure points, and its flexible seal promotes prime airflow while reducing leaks.

Ordering Prescription Respiratory Supplies Online

A lot of us are familiar with dropping off prescriptions at the local pharmacy counter, but what about dropping them off online? All BiPAP and CPAP machines are federally regulated so that they can only be sold to patients with valid prescriptions, and www.VentureResp.com makes it easier than ever to provide this information on the computer.

In fact, patients can provide their prescription info in three different ways:

Email: To transfer your doctor’s prescription via email, all you have to do is send a message to rx@ventureresp.com.

Fax: More into dialing? You can fax your prescription to 718-871-7515.

Let Us Call You: Select “Contact me about my Rx” on a product page, and we’ll use the contact information you provide during checkout to communicate with you about your CPAP prescription.

Plus, once you provide us with your prescription, you’ll never have to do it again for refills. Indicate “My Rx is already on file” when shopping for respiratory supplies, and we’ll find your information on our database instead of asking you to send in repeat information.