Editing Bronchodilator (section)

{{Short description|Drug which widens the lung airways}}
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| specialty    = [[Pulmonology]]
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A '''bronchodilator''' or '''broncholytic'''<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OA37DQAAQBAJ&q=broncholytic+bronchodilator+dictionary&pg=PA320 | title=Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary| isbn=9780803659407| last1=Venes| first1=Donald| date=2017-01-25| publisher=F.A. Davis}}</ref> (although the latter occasionally includes [[Mucus#Mucus hypersecretion|secretory]] inhibition as well) is a substance that dilates the [[Bronchus|bronchi]] and [[bronchiole]]s, decreasing resistance in the [[respiratory system|respiratory airway]] and increasing airflow to the [[lung]]s. Bronchodilators may be [[endogenous|originating naturally within the body]], or they may be [[medication]]s administered for the treatment of breathing difficulties, usually in the form of [[inhaler]]s. They are most useful in [[obstructive lung disease]]s, of which [[asthma]] and [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] are the most common conditions. They may be useful in [[bronchiolitis]] and [[bronchiectasis]], although this remains somewhat controversial. They are often prescribed but of unproven significance in [[restrictive lung disease]]s.<ref name="SatheKrishnaswami2015">{{cite journal | vauthors = Sathe NA, Krishnaswami S, Andrews J, Ficzere C, McPheeters ML | title = Pharmacologic Agents That Promote Airway Clearance in Hospitalized Subjects: A Systematic Review | journal = Respiratory Care | volume = 60 | issue = 7 | pages = 1061–70 | date = July 2015 | pmid = 25944943 | doi = 10.4187/respcare.04086 | s2cid = 7017557 | url = http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/respcare/60/7/1061.full.pdf | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Bronchodilators are either short-acting or long-acting. Short-acting medications provide quick or "rescue" relief from acute [[bronchoconstriction]]. Long-acting bronchodilators help to control and prevent symptoms. The three types of prescription bronchodilating drugs are [[Beta2-adrenergic agonist|beta-2 adrenergic agonists]] (short- and long-acting), [[anticholinergics]] (short- and long-acting), and [[theophylline]] (long-acting).