What exactly does an asthma inhaler do?

What is the correct way to use an asthma inhaler?

• my doc doesn't know if i definitely have asthma or if it could be allergies.... i often cant catch my breath, and she wants me to use an inhaler for a month....i put it in my mouth and inhale then pull it out and close my lips and hold my breath for 10 seconds like the instructions say but when i exhale i open my lips and notice the puff floating away like smoke...is the medicine being wasted ? am i supposed to exhale thru my nose so that the mist remains in my mouth?

• Answer:

  you are taking it wrong. First: Shake the inhaler Then: Exhale all the air out of your lungs Then: Put inhaler mouth piece in your mouth (between lips) Then: Press the inhaler, and inhale deep in. then: Hold your breath for at least 10 second. (* You have not to hold the fumes in your mouth but you have to inhale deep so that they reach deep inside lungs)