What condition does albuterol primarily treat?

Albuterol primarily treats bronchospasm, which is a narrowing of the airways in the lungs due to muscle contraction. This condition is often associated with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that works by relaxing the muscles around the airways, leading to an expansion of the bronchial passages and improved airflow.

While chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema are respiratory conditions that can affect lung function, they do not primarily involve the acute narrowing of airways in the same way that bronchospasm does. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by long-term inflammation and mucus production in the airways, pneumonia involves infection of the lung tissue, and emphysema features damage to the air sacs in the lungs. Albuterol can provide symptomatic relief in these conditions if bronchospasm occurs, but its primary indication is for the treatment of bronchospasm itself.