Which condition is characterized by poor airflow due to long-term lung damage?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by poor airflow due to long-term lung damage, typically resulting from long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs and airways. The most common contributors to COPD are smoking, environmental pollutants, and respiratory infections. In this condition, the airflow limitation is generally progressive and is associated with an increased chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung parenchyma.

Patients with COPD often experience symptoms such as chronic cough, increased sputum production, wheezing, and difficulty breathing, particularly during exertion. The damage to the lungs can lead to the destruction of the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs), chronic bronchitis, and airflow obstruction, confirming its classification as a disease that results in poor airflow.

In contrast, acute bronchitis is mostly a temporary inflammation of the airways often caused by infections and does not result in long-term lung damage. Pneumonia refers to an acute infection of the lungs that can cause fluid accumulation and is not characterized by chronic damage. Asthma is a condition involving reversible airway obstruction typically triggered by allergens or irritants, rather than permanent lung damage. Thus, it is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that encapsulates the description of poor airflow