Obstructive lung diseae

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)

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