Obstructive airways disease clinical clues to diagnosis and management

Abstract

Although the pulmonary obstruction caused by asthma is reversible, that caused by emphysema and chronic bronchitis is not, so that early diagnosis of these progressive conditions is essential to successful therapy. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of obstructive airways disease; demonstrating the presence of early disease and persuading the patient to give up smoking may greatly improve the prognosis.