What's the difference between copd and chronic airway obstruction?

Category...: Copd, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is one disease that causes chronic airway obstruction. So, chronic airway obstruction is the category that COPD falls under.

Similar: One of the causes of chronic airway obstruction is copd. Both terms are used interchangeably. Chronic airway obstruction can also be due to extrinsic compression of the trachea or bronchioles.

Subtle: Chronic airway obstruction is a broader term that encompasses copd, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis and various less common diseases that cause small airway obstruction. There is another entity - large airway obstruction that is not associated with COPD but rather with tumors or anatomic abnormalities such as a large goiter, for example.

Category...: Copd, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is one disease that causes chronic airway obstruction. Chronic airway obstruction is a more general category and there are other pulmonary disease that also cause chronic airway obstruction, like bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, etc. See your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Difference....: COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients with COPD have chronic airway obstruction. There are other disease which can also result in chronic airway obstruction besides copd; COPD is just one disorder that causes chronic airway obstruction.

One kind: COPD is one form of chronic airway obstruction. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, obliterative bronchiolitis, small airway disease, bronchiectasis, etc. Etc are other forms.