What condition results from the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, leading to restricted air flow?

Bronchitis is characterized by the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are the air passages that lead from the trachea to the lungs. This inflammation causes the airways to swell and produce excess mucus, thereby restricting air flow and making it difficult to breathe. This condition can be acute, often resulting from infections, or chronic, typically linked to long-term irritants like smoking or pollution. The hallmark symptoms of bronchitis include coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing, all stemming from the obstructed airways due to inflammation.

In contrast, emphysema involves the damage of the alveoli (the small air sacs in the lungs), leading to reduced gas exchange ability. Chronic sinusitis refers to the prolonged inflammation of the sinuses, significantly affecting nasal breathing but not directly influencing bronchial airways like bronchitis does. Bronchial asthma, while also a condition that restricts airflow, is primarily characterized by reversible airway obstruction due to inflammation and hyperreactivity, which may manifest different from the sustained inflammation seen in bronchitis.