Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between these two types of inhalers, especially regarding how fast the patient inhales (inspiratory flow)Examples of common inhaler technique errors and recommendations for improvement are described in ‘Table 2: Common inhaler technique errors and suggested solutions’.Patients should be instructed not to hold a DPI with the mouthpiece pointing downwards during, or after loading, a dose, as the drug can escape. : injection?INR: International normalized ratio?int. : Every four hour?q.s. In the image, (left to right) a MDI, Turbohaler, Autohaler and AccuhalerAsthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common conditions in the UK and inhaled medications are the cornerstone of their managementThe goal of asthma treatment is for patients to be symptom free and to be able to lead a normal, active life. How to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with spacerIt is a good idea for healthcare professionals to learn how to correctly use each inhaler device (see additional resources for useful videos) and to be aware of common errors (see Table 2 and Figures 1–5), so they can confidently demonstrate this to patients. : Gravid (pregnant)?GRE: Glucocorticoid receptor elements?GS: General surgery?GS: Genital system?GSD II: Glycogen storage disease II?GSRS: Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale?GSW: Gunshot wound?GTC: Generalised tonicclonic?GTN: Gestation trophoblastic neoplasia?GTN: Glyceryl trinitrate?GTT: Glucose tolerance test?gtt: Drop?GU: Gastric ulcer?GU: Genitourinary?GU: Gonococcal urethritis?GUS: Genitourinary system?GUSTO: ?GVHD: Graft-versus-host disease?GVL: graft versus leukemia?gyn: Gynaecology?H: Hypodermic?H & P: History and physical?H&L: Heart and lungs?h. : United States Pharmacopia?U/A: Urinalysis?U/S: Ultrasound?UA: Unstable angina?UA: Uric acid?UA: Urinalysis?UBIC: Unsaturated iron binding capacity?UC: Ulcerative colitis?UCD: Urea cycle disorder?UCL: Ulnar Collateral Ligament?UCr: Urine creatinine concentration?UDCA: Ursodeoxycholic acid; ursodiol?UDP: Uridine diphosphate?UFH: Unfractionated heparin?UGI: Upper gastrointestinal?UHT: Ultra-high-temperature pasteurization?UIP: Usual interstitial pneumonitis?UL: ?UMN: Upper motor neuron?UNa: Urine sodium concentration?Ung: Ointment?UP: Urticaria pigmentosa?URI: Upper respiratory infection?URTI: Upper respiratory tract infection?US: Ultrasound?ut. : At bed time?h/o: History of?HA: Headache?HAA: Hepatitis-associated antigen?HAART: Highly active antiretroviral therapy?HACE: High Altitude Cerebral Edema?HACEK: Haemophilus, Actinobacillus, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, Kingella?HAHA: Human anti-human antibody?HAMA: Hamilton Anxiety Scale?HAPE: High Altitude Pulmonary Edema?HAS: Human albumin solution?HAV: Hepatitis A virus?Hb: Hemoglobin?HB: Heart block?HbA1c: Glucosylated hemoglobin?HBAg: Hepatitis B antigen?HBD: Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase?HBDM: Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase?HbF: Hemoglobin, fetal?HBGM: Home blood glucose monitoring?HBIG: Hepatitis B immune globulin?HBO: Hyperbaric oxygen?HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen?HBsAG: Hepatitis B surface antigen?HBV: Hepatitis B virus?HC: Head circumference?HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma?hCG: Human chorionic gonadotropin ?HCO3: Bicarbonate?Hct: Hematocrit?HCT: hematopoietic cell transplantation?HCTZ: Hydrochlorothiazide?HCV: Hepatitis C virus?HCVD: Hypertensive cardiovascular disease?HD: hemodialysis?HDAC: Histone deacetylase?HDCV: Human diploid cell rabies vaccine?HDL: High-density lipoproteins?HDP: Hydroxymethylene diphosphonate?HDUL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol?HDV: Hepatitis D virus?HE: Granulocytic ehrlichiosis?HEDP: 1-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate?HEENT: Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat?HELLP: Hemolysis, elevated liver functions, low platelets?HEMA: Hydroxyethylmethacrylate?Hep A: Hepatitis A?HEPA: High-efficient particulate air filters?HER1: Human epidermal growth factor receptor?HER-2neu: A receptor present in some breast cancers?HERG: ?HES: Hypereosinophilic syndrome?HEV: Hepatitis E virus?HF: Heart failure?HFE: ?Hgb: Hemoglobin?HgbAIC: Glycosylated hemoglobin?HGPRT: Hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyl transferase?HGV: Hepatitis G virus?HHNKC: Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Non-Ketotic Coma?HHV: Human herpes virus?HHV-8: Human herpesvirus-8?HIAA: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid?Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b?HIDA: Hepatobiliary nuclear scan?HIDA: N[N\'(2,6dimethylphenyl)varbamoylmethyl] iminodiacetic acid?HIE: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy?HIFU: High-intensity focused ultrasound?HIT: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia?HIV: Immunodefieciency virus?HLA: Human leukocyte antigen?HMD: Hyaline membrane disease?hMG: Human menopausal gonadotropins?HMG-CoA: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A?HMM: Hexamethylmelamine?HMMA: 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid?HMSN: Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy?HMW: High-molecular weight?HNPCC: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer?HO: House officer?HOPE: Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation?HP: hemoperfusion?HPA: Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal?HPC: Hematopoietic progenitor cell?HPEN: Home pareneral and enteral nutrition?HPF: High-power field?HPI: History of present illness?HPN: Home parenteral nutrition?HPV: Human papilloma virus?HR: Heart rate?HR: hazard ratio?hr.