Which condition is an example of an obstructive pulmonary disease?

Which condition is an example of an obstructive pulmonary disease?

• A. Bronchiectasis
• B. Pneumonia
• C. Interstitial lung disease
• D. Cystic fibrosis

Answer: (A)

Obstructive pulmonary diseases are characterized by the narrowing or obstruction of the airways, which impedes airflow during expiration. Bronchiectasis is a condition that involves the abnormal dilation of the bronchial tubes, leading to chronic inflammation and infection. This dilation can result in thickened mucus that obstructs airflow, making it difficult for air to exit the lungs during exhalation, which aligns with the definition of an obstructive pulmonary disease. In contrast, pneumonia is an infection that affects the alveoli in the lungs, leading to inflammation and fluid accumulation, but it does not primarily involve the obstruction of airflow. Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of disorders affecting the interstitial space of the lungs and primarily involves restrictive patterns of lung disease, meaning they restrict lung expansion rather than obstruct airflow. Cystic fibrosis is also a condition that can lead to obstruction of the airways due to thick mucus, but it is a genetic disorder with additional systemic implications that are broader than just obstructive pulmonary disease alone. Therefore, bronchiectasis is a clear example of an obstructive pulmonary condition.

Obstructive pulmonary diseases are characterized by the narrowing or obstruction of the airways, which impedes airflow during expiration. Bronchiectasis is a condition that involves the abnormal dilation of the bronchial tubes, leading to chronic inflammation and infection. This dilation can result in thickened mucus that obstructs airflow, making it difficult for air to exit the lungs during exhalation, which aligns with the definition of an obstructive pulmonary disease.

In contrast, pneumonia is an infection that affects the alveoli in the lungs, leading to inflammation and fluid accumulation, but it does not primarily involve the obstruction of airflow. Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of disorders affecting the interstitial space of the lungs and primarily involves restrictive patterns of lung disease, meaning they restrict lung expansion rather than obstruct airflow. Cystic fibrosis is also a condition that can lead to obstruction of the airways due to thick mucus, but it is a genetic disorder with additional systemic implications that are broader than just obstructive pulmonary disease alone. Therefore, bronchiectasis is a clear example of an obstructive pulmonary condition.