Level of care for COPD
A level of long-term care can be applied for if a person is no longer able to meet his or her basic needs (personal hygiene, nutrition, mobility) independently due to illness. Depending on the severity of the illness, the person concerned is assigned to a care level. Care level I means that a person is dependent on at least 90 minutes of help every day. With care level II, this means at least 3 hours of help daily and with care level III, someone must be dependent on at least 5 hours of help daily. Especially in later stages of COPD, the help of a nurse may be necessary.
Is a COPD contagious?
COPD is not contagious. Since the cause of the disease lies exclusively in the affected person himself, the disease cannot be transmitted to other people. Unlike many infectious diseases, no pathogen is the trigger of COPD.
Rather, the trigger is pollutants that enter the lungs of the affected person. Thus, in principle, a smoker who smokes permanently in the presence of other people can also contribute to the development of COPD in you. However, this is not a form of infection with a disease.
Which sport is beneficial for COPD?
There are special lung sports groups throughout Germany that specialise in physical training with lung patients. Asthma and COPD are particularly common among lung diseases, so many lung sports groups have specialists in sports for COPD. The aim of lung sports is, on the one hand, to strengthen the respiratory muscles through specific gymnastic exercises.
In addition, special breathing techniques can be learned in this sports group to make breathing easier in acute respiratory distress. In addition, endurance and mobility are trained. These not only help the lungs to perform better, but also make the entire body fitter.
This makes many everyday efforts easier for those affected. Movement sequences and coordination skills are also improved. The great advantage of these lung sports groups is that specialists can design the training individually for each person.
Thus, each person affected is picked up at his or her fitness level and benefits from the training. In general, training that can improve the condition is recommended for people suffering from COPD. Especially beginners benefit not only from big jogging rounds but already from small walks. However, those who have not done any sport for a long time should only start training after consulting their doctor and following his instructions.
Origin of the disease
Three main mechanisms are involved in the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic inflammation means permanent irritation of the airways. The irritation leads to: The simple chronic inflammation is characterized by a thickened mucosa in the lower respiratory tract and increased mucus production.
In a healthy person, small cilia in the lower respiratory tract ensure that mucus and other particles are transported in the direction of the larynx, i.e. out of the lungs. In the case of a permanent inflammation, this transport of the ciliated epithelium is also disturbed and the mucus remains in the airways. Due to the recurring inflammations, the tissue develops a hyperexcitability with constriction.
If this is not consistently treated, there is a risk that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will continue into the alveoli. The pulmonary alveoli can stick together and be destroyed. The consequence is over-inflation of the lungs, a so-called emphysema with impaired breathing. – Swelling of the mucous membrane of the bronchi due to fluid retention (bronchial oedema)
- Contraction of the bronchial wall musculature
- Increase of mucus production
