Final answer:
The statement is True; COPD includes respiratory diseases with increased airway resistance due to alveoli loss and airway obstruction, such as asthma and emphysema, which are associated with poor airflow and breathing difficulties.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: COPD encompasses respiratory diseases that are characterized by increased airway resistance. The answer is True. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of respiratory diseases that cause obstructions in the airflow from the lungs. It is characterized by a reduction in the number of alveoli, airways narrowing with mucus buildup, and brain tissue changes that make exhalation difficult. This results in increased airway resistance and trapping of air in the lungs.
Examples of other obstructive diseases include asthma and pulmonary edema. In asthma, inflammation leads to airway obstruction, whereas in emphysema, which is related to COPD and often caused by smoking, there is destruction of alveolar walls leading to decreased gas exchange surface area. These changes contribute to the poor airflow that is a hallmark of obstructive pulmonary disease.