Which of the following symptoms may indicate obstructive lung disease?

Chronic productive cough is a key symptom that may indicate obstructive lung disease. In conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the airways become narrowed, leading to difficulty in breathing and an increase in mucus production. This results in a cough that is typically persistent and productive, as the body attempts to expel the excess mucus from the airways.

Obstructive lung diseases are characterized by airflow limitation resulting from increases in resistance, primarily due to inflammation and obstruction of the airways. A chronic productive cough serves as an important clinical indicator of this type of lung disease because it reflects the underlying pathophysiological changes occurring within the respiratory system.

Various other symptoms typically associated with obstructive lung disease include wheezing, shortness of breath, and prolonged expiration. These symptoms help distinguish obstructive diseases from restrictive lung diseases, which do not prominently feature a chronic productive cough.