How should an athlete's inhaler be used during an asthma attack?

Using an inhaler during an asthma attack is crucial for delivering medication effectively to open up the airways. The correct technique involves inhaling while simultaneously pressing down on the canister to release the medication. This method ensures that the aerosolized medication is inhaled deeply into the lungs, allowing it to take effect rapidly. The timing of pressing the canister coincides with the beginning of inhalation, which maximizes the amount of medication that reaches the respiratory system.

Shaking the inhaler vigorously before use may be important for some types of inhalers to mix the medication properly, but it does not substitute for the proper inhalation process during an attack. Sharing an inhaler is not advisable as it can lead to the transmission of infections and doesn’t address the specific medical needs of each athlete. Therefore, the emphasized action of inhaling while pressing the canister is the key to effectively managing an asthma attack with an inhaler.