Chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD for short), the two can be distinguished from each other by the nature of the disease and symptoms. 1. Nature of the disease: (1) Chronic bronchitis is a chronic non-specific inflammation of the trachea, bronchial mucosa and its surrounding tissues. It may be prolonged or recurrent. However, there is no airflow limitation in chronic bronchitis. Once it leads to restricted expiratory flow and causes emphysema, it is classified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic bronchitis is a disease in the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (2) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, which is incompletely reversible and progressive, and can be complicated by chronic respiratory failure, spontaneous pneumothorax, chronic pulmonary heart disease, and other diseases. 2.Symptoms: (1) Chronic bronchitis is a nonspecific inflammation of the tracheal airways, with cough and sputum as the main symptoms. The onset of chronic bronchitis is usually three months or more per year, and the duration of the attack should be more than two years. (2) The symptoms of COPD are mainly chronic cough, sputum, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dyspnea, especially after activities. Early on, it appears during more strenuous activities, and then gradually worsens to the point that shortness of breath is felt during daily activities and even at rest, which is the hallmark symptom of COPD. Meanwhile, chronic bronchitis usually does not cause systemic symptoms, whereas COPD does. Chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be treated aggressively.