The Master Sword

What is a hero without his weapon? Can you slay a dragon without a sword? NO! Before we can discover who asthma's greatest enemy is, we must learn asthma's greatest fear: albuterol. This powerful drug is the main proponent in the arsenal of any man woman, or child fighting against asthma. It is the light that shines through the darkness, the bane of this wretched disease. It is the hero that delivers the victims of such a horrible affliction upon the human body to their sweet, oxygen-filled salvation. It is an asthmatic's lifeline.

What is albuterol, though? No doubt, if you have any experience whatsoever with a respiratory illness, you have heard this drug come up many, many times. It is a drug, and it comes in three forms: tablets, syrups, and (the most common form) as an inhalent. The chemical formula for albuterol is C13H21NO3: 13 atoms of carbon, 21 atoms of hydrogen, and 3 atoms of Nitric Oxide. (Nitrate)



This bond of atoms creates albuterol; it can be found in tablets to syrups, and in nebulizers to inhalers. If you need to breathe, chances are you'll be getting some dose of this miraculous medicine.

But what exactly does albuterol do in regards to asthma? Well, as has already been established, asthma is a disease that constricts the air passages into the lungs, reducing or completely cutting off the supply of oxygen to the body. Albuterol gets into the body and relaxes those muscles. Inhalents are the most commonly administered form of the medication, as it interacts the most quickly with the airways. Albuterol is essentially a muscle relaxant, and while it affects only the smooth muscles of the air passages, it's effects can be felt all over the body. In an attack, it can either get rid of the episode or stall it long enough for emergency treatment to be acquired.

But in severe cases, a tube with a firm skeleton must be employed to force the air passage open. A mechanical ventilator will then be used to maintain sufficient oxygen supply to the body. Peak flows are used to measure the strength of the lungs, chest physiotherapy to rid a chest of mucus, and analyzation of the gases in the blood to diagnose patients. But no other treatment is used quite as often as that shining Excaliubur: albuterol. When it comes to blows, asthma stands no chance. Especially when wielded by a knowledgable medical professional. Albuterol will slow asthma down, but in the battle to kill it? It'll take a lot more than some muscle relaxant.