Restrictive lung diseases prevent the lungs from expanding fully. Some examples include sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Learn more here.

Understanding the Context

Examples of restrictive lung diseases include asbestosis, sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms of restrictive lung disease include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest pain. Diagnostic testing for lung disease may include any of the following: Common examples of restrictive lung disease include conditions that scar the lungs, like pulmonary fibrosis, and problems outside the lungs, like severe obesity or spine curvature. Doctors confirm a restrictive pattern with breathing tests that show reduced total lung capacity.

Key Insights

Restrictive lung diseases are characterized by reduced lung volume (total lung capacity) and compromised lung expansion. The incidence and prevalence of these disorders depend on the specific condition. Explore the causes, symptoms, and treatments of restrictive lung diseases to improve lung compliance and expansion. WebMD explains the difference between obstructive and restrictive lung disease, as well as symptoms, causes, and treatments. Restrictive lung disease is characterized by reduced lung volumes, and therefore reduced lung compliance, either due to an intrinsic reason, for example a change in the lung parenchyma, or due to an extrinsic reason, for example diseases of the chest wall, pleura, or respiratory muscles.

Final Thoughts

[3] Restrictive lung disease is one of two major categories of lung disease. The other is obstructive lung disease, in which the lungs cannot fully expel air due to narrow or blocked airways. Read on to learn more about restrictive lung disease including types, symptoms, treatment, and complications. Obstructive lung diseases like COPD cause trouble when you're exhaling air. Restrictive lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis make it harder to inhale air, reducing total lung capacity. There are two types of lung diseases: obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease.

Restrictive lung diseases are divided into intrinsic (parenchymal) and extrinsic (extraparenchymal) categories, with the most common intrinsic types being in...