The most common causes of obstructive lung disease are:
(Mnemonic: ABCDEF)
A - Asthma
B - Bronchiectasis
C - Chronic bronchitis
D - x
E - Emphysema
F - Fibrosis - Cystic fibrosis
NOTE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Feature |
Obstructive Lung Disease (OLD) |
Restrictive Lung Disease (RLD) |
Definition |
Difficulty exhaling all air from the lungs. |
Difficulty fully expanding the lungs with air. |
Primary symptoms |
Shortness of breath, especially during expiration. |
Shortness of breath, especially during inspiration. |
Examples |
(Mnemonic: ABCDEF) A - Asthma B - Bronchiectasis C - Chronic bronchitis D - x E - Emphysema F - Fibrosis: Cystic fibrosis |
- Asbestosis - Pulmonary fibrosis - Sarcoidosis
|
Key pathophysiology |
Airway narrowing or obstruction leads to impaired airflow. |
Stiff or damaged lung tissue reduces lung expansion. |
Diagnostic tests |
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) Spirometry Chest X-ray or CT scan |
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) Chest X-ray or CT scan Lung bipsy (in some cases) |