Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A generalized term that describes a group of non-reversible disorders in which there is a pathological narrowing of the airways limiting airflow to and from the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath or dyspnea, rapid breathing or tachypnea, a chronic productive cough, increased mucus production, hyperinflation of the lungs and wheezing. The most common forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.