Question

Which type of drug could be used to treat asthma by opening airways wider?

A.) sympatholytic drug
B.) sympathomimetic drug
C.) anticholinergic drug
D.) parasympathomimetic drug

Answer 1

A sympathomimetic drug is used to treat asthma by dilating the airways, with agents like phenylephrine acting on α1-adrenergic receptors in the bronchioles.

Step-by-step explanation:

To treat asthma by opening airways wider, the type of drug used is a sympathomimetic drug. This class of drugs includes agents like phenylephrine, which act as agonists to adrenergic receptors, specifically the α1-adrenergic receptors found in the bronchioles of the lungs. When these receptors are stimulated, the result is the dilation of the airways, allowing for easier breathing and relief from the constricted air passages that characterize asthma attacks.