A young patient with a history of asthma begins having decreased breath sounds and wheezing after physical activity. What is the nurse's priority action?

A. Administer an inhaled steroid such as Pulmicort: Inhaled corticosteroids are used for long-term control of asthma and do not provide immediate relief during an acute episode. They take hours to days to reduce airway inflammation, making them unsuitable for urgent symptom relief. B. Administer an anxiolytic such as diazepam: Asthma symptoms such as wheezing and decreased breath sounds are due to bronchoconstriction, not anxiety. Anxiolytics may suppress respiratory drive and are not appropriate or effective for treating acute asthma. C. Administer an oral steroid such as prednisone: Oral corticosteroids help reduce airway inflammation during an asthma exacerbation, but their onset is delayed. They are used after the acute phase is managed, not as a first-line intervention for immediate symptom relief. D. Administer a short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA) such as albuterol: SABAs provide rapid bronchodilation and are the first-line treatment for acute asthma symptoms. They relax bronchial smooth muscle, quickly relieving wheezing and restoring airflow.