What is the cause of the "obstruction" in COPD?

Answer 1

COPD - Chronic Obstuctive Pulmonary Disaese. It is an umbrella term for emyphesema, chronic bronchitis, asthma.
The bronchi in the lungs are obstructed - closed/blocked by something - nicotine, scarring from infections, etc.
It is a terrible disease. My father died from COPD & myheart goes out to anyone who has this disease.

Answer 2

It's not really an "obstruction". Normal lungs have a certain amount of elasticity. Smoking and some natural reasons cause the lungs and bronchial tubes to lose their elasticity and turn "leather-like", Leather doesn't stretch very much if at all. Therefore the lungs can't get their full measure of oxygen.

Answer 3

Actually, Joyce C. you have it backwards. With COPD the lungs have lost elasticity, and have increased compliance, which causes them to be OVERINFLATED and very stretched out, not returning to their normal size. Restrictive lung disease is where the lungs become stiff and are harder to inflate due to their increased elasticity,but spring back to their original shape and size quickly, which is what you described. The increased compliance is why people with COPD have air trapping and what is known as "barrel chest". Because their lungs are so stretched out and never completely go back to their normal size, they are unable to exhale all of the air out of their lungs. The primary cause of obstruction in COPD is airway resistance.

Answer 4

There are many...a lot of respiratory diseases are lumped into the category COPD:
asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis

Each one has a different cause for the obstruction.

Answer 5

I have COPD, and I believe it's the scar tissue from years of smoking.

Answer 6

The air sacs in the lungs are over extended and holding "old" air and therefor they are obstructing new air from getting in the lungs....

Answer 7

almost always it's a history of smoking. hardens the lung tissue.