What condition is characterized by limited airflow and includes diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is often progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. This condition encompasses a range of diseases, primarily chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are both conditions that promote airflow blockage due to inflammation and structural changes in the lungs.

In chronic bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tubes leads to increased mucus production and cough, while emphysema involves the destruction of the alveoli, reducing surface area for gas exchange. The defining feature of COPD is the difficulty patients experience in fully exhaling air from their lungs, which leads to shortness of breath and reduced exercise capacity over time.

While conditions like asthma and bronchiectasis can also cause breathing difficulties, they do not share the same chronic structural changes as COPD. Pneumonia is an acute condition characterized by infection and inflammation of the lung tissue, which differs fundamentally from the chronic nature of COPD. Thus, COPD stands out as the correct answer due to its specific definition and classification of diseases that influence airflow limitations.