The real reason albuterol is prescribed for heart failure

I am sure you guys are aware that there are no studies regarding albuterol and heart failure. Studies are not needed. Because we know that albuterol is a bronchodilator. It reverses bronchospasm. So, it will do nothing to participate in the removal of fluid from the lungs. It will do nothing to strengthen the heart to reverse a heart failure flare-up. 

So, then why is albuterol ordered for nearly every heart failure patient in the hospital setting. There are a couple theories we can postulate here. 

One, is that too many doctors believe that all shortness of breath must be treated as asthma/ bronchospasm. They are also taught that all wheezes should be considered as bronchospasm and are indications for albuterol breathing treatments. So, this is one theory: that all shortness of breath must be treated as asthma. 

Two, is that patients have reported that the breathing treatment made them feel better. 

You know the story. A patient comes in to the hospital setting experiencing shortness of breath. Going by our theory above, albuterol is ordered. The doctor also orders a diuretic. The patient sees the breathing treatment, and is well aware of taking it, because they have a mask over their face for the duration of the treatment. They also get the diuretic, but they are less aware of it given through their IV. 

An hour later the doctor enters the patient's room and asks, "Do you feel better?" And the patient answers: "I feel much better. That breathing treatment worked well." 

Multiply this scenario for every heart failure patient to come into the ER in every hospital across the world, and you have doctors who now think albuterol works for heart failure. 

You see, this is a perfect example of how medicine is not always based on science, especially when it comes to respiratory therapy. 

A patient gets short of breath. The doctor hears wheezing. So he orders an albuterol breathing treatment. He also orders lasix. 

The patient gets the lasix by IV. She does not see the lasix going in. Then she gets a breathing treatment