Ohio State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) Practice Test

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is primarily characterized by chronic inflammation and obstruction of the airways, which makes breathing difficult. It encompasses two main diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Chronic bronchitis involves long-term inflammation of the bronchi, leading to increased mucus production and persistent coughing, while emphysema involves damage to the alveoli (the small air sacs in the lungs), reducing the surface area available for gas exchange and making it hard to breathe. The connection between these two conditions defines COPD, as they both contribute to obstructed airflow and respiratory difficulties.

The other choices do not pertain to COPD. Heart disease and hyperlipidemia relate to cardiovascular health, asthma is a separate respiratory condition that may relate to COPD but is classified differently, and pneumonia and tuberculosis are infectious diseases that affect the lungs but are not categorized under COPD. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the correct association with COPD.