How does a Restrictive Lung Disease differ from an Obstructive Lung Disease such as Asthma, Emphysema, and Bronchitis?
Any respiratory disease or lung disorder that reduces ther amount of air that can be inhaled -because of loss of elasticity of the lung tissue or loss of respiratory tissue itself -can be classified as a restrictive lung disease. In case of an obstructive lung disease (such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis) it is either the narrowing or blockage of the airways that causes the air-flow to be decreased. In case of a restrictive airway disease, however, it is the reduction in lung tissue elasticity (or a disease thereof) reduces the lung recoil (and therefore the lung volume) that causes the amount of air-intake/inhaled within the lungs.
