Chronic Bronchitis

**Semantic type:** Disease or Syndrome

**Definition:** A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the bronchial tree that results in edema, mucus production, obstruction, and reduced airflow to and from the lung alveoli. The most common cause is tobacco smoking. Signs and symptoms include coughing with excessive mucus production, and shortness of breath.

**Synonyms:** - Unspecified chronic bronchitis