Which type of lung disease is characterized by increased airway resistance and decreased airflow?

Obstructive lung disease is characterized by increased airway resistance, which leads to a significant decrease in airflow, particularly during expiration. This group of diseases includes conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchiectasis. The hallmark of obstructive lung disease is the obstruction of airways, making it difficult for air to flow out of the lungs. This results in an elongated expiration phase since the airways are narrowed or blocked, causing hyperinflation of the lungs and trapping air within them.

In contrast, restrictive lung diseases involve a reduction in lung volume due to stiffness in the lungs or chest wall, which predominantly affects the lung's ability to expand rather than airflow limitation. Interstitial lung diseases involve inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue, while vascular lung diseases primarily concern the blood vessels and are not characterized by increased airway resistance in the same manner as obstructive diseases.