Final answer:
Medications such as albuterol (Ventolin) relieve respiratory distress by relaxing the smooth muscles in the airways.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medications such as albuterol (Ventolin) relieve respiratory distress by relaxing the smooth muscles in the airways. Asthma is a chronic illness in which the bronchioles become inflamed and narrow, which causes difficulty breathing. Albuterol, as a bronchodilator, soothes the constricted air passages and helps to re-expand them, making breathing easier.