Final answer:
Inhaler medications used during an asthma attack work to reduce airway resistance by expanding the airways, which increases lung volume and decreases the effort required to breathe. These effects are achieved by the use of bronchodilators and, for long-term control, corticosteroids that prevent future attacks.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a person suffering an asthma attack, inhaler medications are designed to reduce the airway resistance and thereby make breathing easier. These medications, often referred to as bronchodilators, are intended to increase the airway radius by relaxing the muscles around the airways that have become tightened. This in turn helps to increase the lung volume by allowing more air to be inhaled and exhaled and to decrease the work of breathing. It is important to note that a reduction in FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second) is not the goal of inhaler medications; rather, their use should lead to an improvement in FEV1, indicating better lung function during an asthma attack.
In the case of an allergic reaction causing airways to swell, this would likely increase the resistance of the respiratory system because swollen airways make it harder for air to flow through them. Therefore, the treatment for such a condition generally involves bronchodilators to reduce that resistance and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Long-term medications, like corticosteroids, assist in the prevention of asthma attacks by reducing airway inflammation and sensitivity to triggers.