Bronchial dilators are more commonly referred to as bronchodilators. They are an essential treatment for many people with asthma or with other diseases like emphysema that cause the airway or the bronchial tubes to become chronically inflamed. This inflammation restricts passage of air. Often people with these forms of diseases have a condition called bronchial hyperactivity, which means that greater restriction and inflammation can occur suddenly when people are exposed to irritants, like cigarette smoke, or allergy-producing substances, like pollen. Part of treating quick inflammation can be using bronchial dilators.
There are a few types of dilators. Short acting forms that contain medications like albuterol cause instant dilation of the airway. Dilation means widening or expanding. When thinking of bronchial dilators, it may help to picture a dilated pupil, which appears much larger and open. Dilators are meant to open the inflamed airway to give more breathing room. The short acting forms work very quickly, but don’t cure chronic forms of the disease, and most of these medicines are inhaled so they reach the bronchial tubes in a hurry.
Long-acting forms of bronchodilators exist too, and these may be either inhaled or taken orally. They often have to be combined with a steroid in order to be most effective, and this is what medications like Advair® and Symbicort® do. The most important thing to remember about these medications is they usually won’t resolve asthma attack symptoms while they are occurring. Most people will still need to keep a short-acting inhaler on hand in case an asthma attack develops.
Bronchial dilators may also be classed in a third group and called anticholinergic drugs. These are usually used to treat emphysema. They include medications like tiotropium, which is available in oral and inhaled forms.
A few over the counter (OTC) dilators exist, too. OTC forms have medications like epinephrine. While they might halt the very occasional asthma attack, they may be of little use for people with severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Doctors recommend that people who have asthma frequently see their doctor to get prescription medications that are more suited for prescribed treatment.
There can be some side effects to many forms of bronchial dilators. They often contain elements that are similar to caffeine or ephedrine, and use can make people feel shaky and feel like their heart is pounding. These side effects tend to be less felt if people use a bronchodilator on a regular basis.
