How do obstructive lung diseases differ from restrictive lung diseases?

Obstructive lung diseases are characterized by a reduction in airflow due to the narrowing or obstruction of the airways, which makes it difficult for the patient to exhale fully. This includes conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In contrast, restrictive lung diseases involve a decrease in lung volume due to stiffness or loss of compliance in the lung tissue itself or in the pleura, leading to a reduced ability for the lungs to expand during inhalation. Conditions like pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis exemplify this category.

The distinction between these two types of lung diseases is crucial for diagnosis and treatment. Understanding that obstructive diseases are primarily about airflow limitation while restrictive diseases are about the inability to fully expand the lungs helps guide therapeutic approaches and management strategies.

The other options do not correctly describe the fundamental differences between these two categories of lung diseases and thus do not capture the essence of their functional impairments.