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) |