1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Asthma

How to Use an MDI With a Mask

by Kathleen MacNaughton, R.N.
for About.com

Updated: December 5, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

5 of 8

Now, Play the Hold Your Breath Game

Photo courtesy of A.D.A.M. (hold breath; count to 10)

Count to 10 and Hold Breath

A.D.A.M.
This next step is designed to get the medicine deeply into your child's airways, for maximum benefit from every dose.

Once your child has finished breathing in deeply, try and get him or her to hold his/her breath as long as you can. Make it a game; do it together. Shoot to do it for a count of 10. If that's not possible, though, just go as long as you can without your child getting anxious.

Then, let your child exhale loudly and slowly. You could pretend you're trying to blow out a candle or a feather.

Explore Asthma
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Asthma
  4. Control & Prevention
  5. Asthma Treatment
  6. Metered Dose Inhalers
  7. Now, Play the Hold Your Breath Game

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.