Patients Disease

Disease-Related Breathing Problems

Here are three primary categories of disease-related breathing problems.

1. Obstructive: Associated with decreased exhaled air flow resulting from narrowed or obstructed airways. These may include diseases such as with asthma, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, or emphysema. (More examples)

2. Restrictive: Occurs as a decrease or restriction in the volume or air-holding capacity of the lungs. This may be caused by decreased elasticity or compliance of the lungs or by problems related to the expansion of the chest wall during inhalation. Neuromuscular diseases fall under the category of restrictive lung disease. (More examples)

3. Lung disease: A defect in the lung's air sack tissue may reduce its ability to allow the diffusion of oxygen into the blood stream. Many disease-related breathing problems involve some combination of these common categories.