Obstructive lung disease

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

[edit intro]

In medicine, obstructive lung disease is "any disorder marked by persistent obstruction of bronchial air flow."[1]

## Classification[edit]

* Asthma
* Bronchitis
* Acute Bronchitis
* Chronic bronchitis (see below)
* Bronchiolitis
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
* Chronic bronchitis is a "subcategory of [[chronic obstructive pulmonary] disease]]. The disease is characterized by hypersecretion of mucus accompanied by a chronic (more than 3 months in 2 consecutive years) productive cough. Infectious agents are a major cause of chronic bronchitis."[2]
* Emphysema is a "subcategory of [[chronic obstructive pulmonary] disease]]. The disease is characterized by anatomic alterations of the lungs, such as the enlargement of airspaces and destruction of alveolar walls."[3]

## Treatment[edit]

Among the chronic varieties of obstructive lung disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is very important for determining treatment.

Drugs that affect asthma and COPD differently  heading | Asthma | COPD

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Long acting adrenergic beta-agonists | may increase cardiovascular adverse effects, although this mainly be when used as monotherapy[4][5] | may reduce death[6] and slow progression of airway obstruction, especially when combined with inhaled glucocorticoid[7].
Cholinergic antagonists | Possibly beneficial[8][9] | may increase cardiovascular adverse effects[10][11]
Inhaled glucocorticoids | beneficial[12] | as a monotherapy, may increase the risk of pneumonia.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Anonymous (2025), Obstructive lung disease (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. ↑ Anonymous (2025), Chronic bronchitis (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
3. ↑ Anonymous (2025), Pulmonary emphysema (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
4. ↑ Cates CJ, Cates MJ (2008). "Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD006363. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD006363.pub2. PMID 18646149. Research Blogging.
5. ↑ Nelson HS, Weiss ST, Bleecker ER, Yancey SW, Dorinsky PM (January 2006). "The Salmeterol Multicenter Asthma Research Trial: a comparison of usual pharmacotherapy for asthma or usual pharmacotherapy plus salmeterol". Chest 129 (1): 15–26. DOI:10.1378/chest.129.1.15. PMID 16424409. Research Blogging.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Calverley PM, Anderson JA, Celli B, et al (February 2007). "Salmeterol and fluticasone propionate and survival in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". N. Engl. J. Med. 356 (8): 775–89. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa063070. PMID 17314337. Research Blogging.
7. ↑ Celli BR, Thomas NE, Anderson JA, et al (August 2008). "Effect of pharmacotherapy on rate of decline of lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from the TORCH study". Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 178 (4): 332–8. DOI:10.1164/rccm.200712-1869OC. PMID 18511702. Research Blogging.
8. ↑ Westby M, Benson M, Gibson P (2004). "Anticholinergic agents for chronic asthma in adults". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD003269. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003269.pub2. PMID 15266477. Research Blogging.
9. ↑ Stoodley RG, Aaron SD, Dales RE (July 1999). "The role of ipratropium bromide in the emergency management of acute asthma exacerbation: a metaanalysis of randomized clinical trials". Ann Emerg Med 34 (1): 8–18. PMID 10381989. [e]
10. ↑ Lee TA, Pickard AS, Au DH, Bartle B, Weiss KB (September 2008). "Risk for death associated with medications for recently diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". Ann. Intern. Med. 149 (6): 380–90. PMID 18794557. [e]
11. ↑ Sonal Singh, Yoon K. Loke, and Curt D. Furberg (2008). Inhaled Anticholinergics and Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 300 (12), 1439-50 (24 Sep 2008) DOI:10.1001/jama.300.12.1439
12. ↑ Adams NP, Bestall JC, Lasserson TJ, Jones PW, Cates C (2005). "Fluticasone versus placebo for chronic asthma in adults and children". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD003135. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003135.pub3. PMID 16235315. Research Blogging.