Common symptoms include chronic cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Diagnosis is primarily based on spirometry, which measures lung function. A post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 0.70 confirms the presence of airflow obstruction. Additional tests, such as chest X-rays, CT scans, and blood gas analysis, may be used to assess the extent of lung damage and rule out other conditions.
