What is a typical characteristic of obstructive lung diseases?

Obstructive lung diseases are primarily characterized by a reduction in airflow due to blockages in the airways. This is a hallmark feature of conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchiectasis. In these diseases, the airways become narrowed or obstructed, leading to difficulty in exhaling air from the lungs. As a result, patients experience symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and a prolonged expiration phase.

While lung capacity may vary, patients often retain air in their lungs due to the difficulty in fully exhaling, which can lead to hyperinflation. Heightened lung compliance can also occur, but this does not define obstructive lung diseases strictly; rather, it can sometimes occur in the disease. Inflammation of lung tissues is more characteristic of restrictive lung diseases or acute asthma exacerbations rather than a defining feature of obstructive lung diseases as a whole. Thus, reduced airflow stands out as the defining characteristic of obstructive lung diseases.