A patient takes salbutamol. Which medical condition is she most likely to have?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Gastritis
• C. Asthma
• D. Diabetes

Answer: (C)

Salbutamol is a fast-acting bronchodilator used to relieve bronchospasm, most commonly in asthma. It works by stimulating beta-2 receptors on the smooth muscle lining the airways, causing the muscles to relax. This widens the airways, reduces resistance, and helps breath flow more easily, which is exactly what someone with asthma experiences during an attack or bronchospasm.

Because asthma involves reversible airway obstruction and bronchospasm, a medication that directly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle is the typical treatment. The other conditions listed—hypertension, gastritis, and diabetes—do not primarily involve reversible airway obstruction or acute bronchospasm, and salbutamol is not a standard treatment for those conditions.