COPD and The Barbell Prescription

www.amazon.com/Barbell-Prescr...
COPD doesn't mean you can't train. It means you HAVE to train...because it's better to have COPD and be strong than to have COPD and be weak. COPD puts us at even more risk for decreased muscle, bone, vitality and independence as we grow older. So if you have COPD, you need to train as much as anybody...only more so. Sully covers the essentials of COPD and why training for strength can be safe and productive for those with chronic lung disease.
WRITTEN AND PRODUCED by Jonathon Sullivan MD, PhD, SSC
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Content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Consult your physician for questions about your health, diet and exercise.

[@doctorartphd6463]

I am a medical researcher, who argued with my (useless allopathic) doctor, who told me, that my COPD was NOT reversible. Doctors are so clueless. I told him that the human body can regenerate brain tissue and lung tissue if one does the right things. Exercise is key...so stay active. I also found a form of Vit E (tocotrienols) and lung repair supplements (Pneumotrophin PMG) along with other supplements to be very healing, and help remove lung scar tissue, and help bronchioles heal. Serrapeptase is also excellent! I am 70 yrs old, was diagnosed with COPD, and still lift weights and building muscle mass. Praise God. I feel like 30 yrs old again !! 😃

[@daveribbons3050]

It isn't reversible, that's nonsense. You can halt it's progression. An imaginary God has nothing to do with it , don't be a muppet

[@bbglas007]

What's the volume of air you can breathe out in a second?

[@doctorartphd6463]

@@bbglas007 23%

[@HalfassDIY]

@@daveribbons3050 Ahhhh, thankfully the obligatory know-it-all has arrived to save the day !

[@Cube_Ernator1077]

@@daveribbons3050 Be Respectful or say Nothing! If you're Not that commenters age, just be Quiet all together.

[@michaeldrew64]

Absolutely spot on. Now 77, for the last 30 years, my routine is: stretch that includes a little pilates. Aerobic - exercise bike and rowing and finally weight training. In all around one hour twice a week. It works! Oh yes ... and get a dog for the walks!

[@garymoore3446]

Practice double breath inhalation! Breath in through your noise deep and then take a second short breath in. The second breath opens up the rest of your air sacks and you expel excess carbon dioxide and balance's your oxygen and carbon dioxide.

[@dianeserafino3174]

wow felt the difference thank you

[@djswbrown]

I train heavy regularly and I feel that I have inadvertently stumbled upon the secret to success and management of my disease. I am an alpha 1 patient and I have done much study for my health but you are the first who has basically confirmed my theory. I am so glad I have stumbled upon you.

[@michealofalluin4527]

Interesting. I have COPD and I train 3 x weekly. If I train hard, especially lots of heavy squat reps. it takes me time to catch my breath but I truly believe it helps the COPD.

[@grasonicus]

In my old age, I've started having asthma, not severe and not needing continuous treatment. Sometimes, if I haven't used the inhaler for a while, I get the same shortness of breath when doing weights. Now I use the inhaler before going to the gym and don't have that.

[@doctorartphd6463]

Yes.... also hanging on a chin bar helps expand the chest cavity. When lifting weights, breathing sequence is key. I also lay on my back, on a bench, and take a dumbbell hold it with both hands, and lower it overhead, as far as I can all the while inhaling deeply. I raise up over my face, while exhaling...repeat 10X. You'll notice a difference within days.

[@jayceehart3714]

Thanks for the info.

[@doctorartphd6463]

Have you ever heard of Lobelia ? There are several herbs that will reduce the damage which causes the mucus buildup. Do some research...

[@redeye1619]

Same here, squats kill me, i spent 10 minutes trying to catch breath non stop. really hard.

[@davidwright873]

I've been lifting for 45 years....since age 13...Now, at 58, i've been diag. with COPD....I guess i'll keep going till i can't....

[@mdrouin6306]

Mike from Elk Grove California age 63. Once again he's correct, my medical condition's consist of the following: Brain Tumor, COPD, full spinal hardware from Cervical, Thoracic T4-T12 and Lumbar, Nueropthy, Extensive Coronary Heart Disease w/3 stents, Acute Poly Phoriattic Arthritis etc... this alone should be reason to excercise. I returned to my bodybuilding training approximately 2 years ago if I didn't I would not have survived my 4th and 5th final major spinal surgeries. On March 3, 2022 I set a New Record for my age and weight class Decline Bench Pressing 335 lbs, it's posted on KZbin as "335 lb Decline Bench Press Age 63 Wt 189" Full Spinal Hardware

[@josem.gonzalez9081]

You are an inspiration

[@mdrouin6465]

@@josem.gonzalez9081 thank you so much, enjoy your 4th of July, be safe

[@y.g.1313]

Hmm.. interesting, so you're doing one thing right - the exercise. And everything else you keep doing to kill yourself faster with mainstream big Pharma treatments.

[@shazben9822]

Sorry I know this is an old post and you may not see it You mentioned you had surgery What stage of copd were you. I have been told that have my gallbladder removed would be far to risky so surgery for me is not sn option at this moment in time.

[@heathervarcoe6894]

Wow wow wow. Hats of to you for your courage and determination. Very admirable. I hope you are still doing well. God BLESS you.

[@brettduce5243]

I love that you mentioned different COPD phenotypes. You are obviously keeping up to date with the area.

[@cherylmiller8987]

Oh my gosh I'm a pink puffer, smoked most of my life when diagnosed I quite immediately, but the reason I went in aside from the fact I couldn't breath I'm 5'5" went from weighing 110 to 83 lbs. I'm 75 use my long acting inhaler Breztri, 02 at night and any other time I need it, I also have a 6 lb 02 tank in a backpack when I go out just in case but I don't usually use it. It's been a year since I did zumba I did do pulmonary rehab I still refer to my binder. Your videos are really great It's hard some days to do anything but sit in front of the computer. I have learned more from listening to you than from my pulmonologist I thought it should be the other way around.😳

[@1toshi32]

I have bronchiectasis. Before covid shut down all the gyms, I was a regular goer 6 days a week. I had great lung function to the point that you would never know I had a lung disease. That all changed after covid. I am now overweight with really bad lung function. I have no motivation to go back ... until I came across this video which only reminded me that the way to going back to who was is by me going back to the gym. Thanks for the reminder. I wish everyone who is going through struggles with lung problems, the best of luck. It's definitely worth doing some strength training as well as walking to get back your lung function.

[@dianeserafino3174]

keep going. Even if its not a lot everyday keep going.

[@1toshi32]

@@dianeserafino3174 Thank you. I really appreciate your words. It's what I keep telling myself every day. Start of slow and work up to it.

[@dianeserafino3174]

had to learn this for myself and continual so. We are ALL too hard on ourselves right there it starts. Do what you can, and except it as it maybe. It is what it is....worked in the Health Care industry for years stress people place on themselves what defeats our souls. Slow and do the best you can even if you have a day of nothing......those are okay too. Do whatever you can do and that's good enough. @@1toshi32

[@charlyloman8837]

OMG IM SO GLAD I CAME I FOUND YOU WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN. IM IN AAHH JUST LISTENING TO EVERYTHING YOUR SAYING. IT ALL MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART

[@anthonyhulse1248]

After surviving cancer throughout the COVID pandemic my chronic asthma was in danger of turning into COPD (according to my specialist). This scared me and this,as well as being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome pushed me into the gym.2 months ago she said I had improved so much I no longer had to see her. She was very happy with my improvement and was asking me what exercises I was doing.

[@jessiemorton4219]

Everyone should know that exercise strength training is the elixir of life I had a heart attack that usually kills 13 out of 10 men if it had not been , that I was a lifelong exerciser? It’s been 17 years and I’m still exercising and feeling real good about it!!! yeah ,yeah and I bought your book.

[@elizabethryan2678]

This is one of the best talks on copd I’ve heard. Thank you

[@mikefrizzell2532]

Thank you, Dr. Sullivan! Yet another physiological dysfunction that can be aided by resistance training.

[@gregorymccoy6797]

You're doing good work, Sir. Someone will hear this and decide to change.

[@stephenmyers4319]

Yep me ! Just threw my smokes away. Tomorrow I will start exercising

[@gregorymccoy6797]

@@stephenmyers4319 Stay the path. Future "you" will shake your hand.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

​@@stephenmyers4319So did you stop smoking???

[@richardwiseman562]

Thanks for the info and I will try to get motivated and recover from my COPD

[@nicnak4475]

Hi Dr Sullivan, I was diagnosed with C.O.P.D, but I am not convinced, I run 40 miles and 6 days a week, every Saturday I do my local 5K Park Run Race, I produce a lot of nasal phlegm which then goes down to my chest while I'm in bed, I cough most of the phlegm up in the first mile and then my breathing is fine, Oxygen level 99%. A doc gave me Ahoro Ellipta, which I tried for a month, but it didn't make any difference. I've resigned myself to just living with it, Great video, thanks.

[@Fitness4London]

Awesome video, thanks for posting. I've had personal training clients in London with COPD. All of them were heavy smokers when they were younger.

[@DamageLLC]

This was a great video, and very thorough! As a person who was diagnosed with COPD in the last week after a seven day stay in ICU and a lung procedure / surgery to remove large blood clots from my lungs, I thank you for this information! Excercising is the furthest from my mind at the moment, but this is good info to know and hopefully one day relatively soon I’ll be ready. Thanks again!

[@doctorartphd6463]

The sooner you start working out, the better. Lots of Vit E to prevent lung scarring, too.

[@DamageLLC]

@@doctorartphd6463 Yes I bought a whole bucket of vitamin E lol. Thanks again!

[@markjohnson3616]

Sir your giving me so much hope gonna follow you to the end

[@theawkwardobserver8757]

Very informative and we'll presented . Thank you very much .

[@Myrmecia]

Another great video. When we visit a doctor, the blood test results are merged with details from the clinical examination and past notes to generate a prescription. Regular resistance training is just not an option in the software. Doctors will only consider the information provided by the software. It takes a renegade to consider any other options. Another suggestion: all doctors should be doing resistance training themselves. Just as there are fitness standards in the armed forces, there should be resistance training participation and outcomes expected of all family medical doctors. I am not sure how to achieve this, but requiring it for primary care physicians/general practitioners in the armed forces and the largest medical practice chains would be a possible first step.

[@grenepwede679]

Great video. Very helpful with a balanced nuance on the positivity and inspired action subjects ❤

[@lucasmyint8140]

Thanks. Very beneficial presentation for me.

[@alessandrariussi4658]

Thank you!

[@johnpublic1376]

Excellent video.

[@perrywhitall1530]

Thank you.

[@eddieb9102]

Thank you. This was phenomenal information and really is a game-changer for me. I always thought that I couldn't exercise but after watching this video, I realize now conclusively, that I can exercise and I need to start immediately! Again thanks for the information sir.

[@doctorartphd6463]

Yes....start slow. There is no rush. If you're over 60, just use low weights until you get used to moving around again. Your body will let you know....so pay attention to how your body responds. I wish you all the best.

[@garymoore3446]

Great video thanks

[@lodhi_Sikander-12]

Agree, I inhale welding smoke about 3 hours in a industry, then my lungs 🫁 get horrible problem but with workout and struggle I get a range of strength but if I move beyond that range of weight lifting then I get shortness of breath, therefore I stay within that weight range and hope I will regain my lungs capacity what I had before.

[@ianryan5727]

That was very informative ty very much!

[@mdonblacktoday]

FANTASTIC INFORMATION...STRENGTH TRAINING DEFINITELY INCREASES OVERALL HEALTH IN EVERY WAY, IN ALL BODILY SYSTEMS! I HAVE ASTHMA WHICH HAS BEEN MADE 10X BETTER THROUGH STRENGTH TRAINING!

[@vassmonika_lelekzet]

Thank you. What you are saying totally makes sense. I am looking for information to help my mother who was recently diagnosed with COPD inspite of the fact that she quit smoking long time ago. I'd like to put together some excersize regimen for her. I can help her with breathwork and light cardio to start with however she never did any kind of weight training, she's 68 and overweight. I am aware it has to be built up gradually and of course in a way that doesn't take her motivation away. She tends to quit when facing her limitations too much. Any suggestions where do we start? Thanks in advance.

[@davidpenfold]

Do you have any idea how vaping can potentially have a negative effect for COPD? Obviously it's nowhere near as bad as cigarettes, but I've been sucking on eliquids for six years now and wondered if there was any reliable research. And, thanks again for your great channel.

[@FatLittleOldLady]

I can't stop smoking, but I work hard lifting when I cut down trees and cut them up and load them. I have copd for sure, but was also diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis 4 years ago by some ghost in the hospital who never broke the news to me. I am not shy of heavy lifting that almost caves my ribs in at the center of my chest even with a massive abdominal hernia and broken hardware and spine. Strength is one thing broken bones can't stop because you still have strong muscles. It's either that or learned helplessness in the elderly. I even sharpen my own chainsaw blades. Going to UC Davis next week to see if I really have pulmonary fibrosis. I have my last scans on my channel without comment.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

Im 56, w, male. 5"9 and 277 lbs. I never exorcize and I dont eat healthy. I smoked for 40 years and just quit 2 months ago. I was just diagnosed with COPD as well as Sleep Apnea. I have doctor appointments set up... Doing things like walking up stairs or lifting anything heavy makes me out of breath. I could NEVER run or wrestle around or I'd be gasping immediately. I feel old and broken, and scared when I lose my breath so easy. I hope it's not too late for me to fix this....

[@oneness1_]

Lose weight by intermittent fasting, change your diet, begin some exercise regimen however small, be faithful in using your prescribed meds and do a lot of breathing exercises with meditation 😊. All the best!

[@geraldineosullivan3069]

Hi how is your health now?? Thank you

[@carolgonka6596]

I have COPD and I never smoked you have to reminder back in day people smoked everywhere. A lot of us were exposed to secondary smoke( meaning people smoked around us and we inhaled it).

[@sarasmile6071]

This video is RT approved! 😃

[@kenjishab]

Love this. Ok my turn. Got an AAA. Just had EVAR surgery and now the proud owner of an endoprosthesis. May I resume my novice progression or am I doomed to light dumbbell exercises? Hey if PCOS gets to train why not me too?

[@GreySteel]

I wish I could just tell you to go ahead. But this kind of thing mandates that you work with your vascular surgeon.

[@kenjishab]

@@GreySteel I hope he lifts!

[@jakepapadopoulos8654]

I had a friend who seemed proud of the fact that he used to hold his baby daughter in his left arm while smoking with his right. Wouldn’t that be a commercial? I was totally shocked did not know what to say.

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

Hello! Back in march, I had resistant pneumonia. For my job (which requires strict physicals) I had to get a PFT done. It revealed, through spirometry, I had "COPD." I have zero of the symptoms in real life. Zero. None. Yet, is shows up in the numbers during PFTs and CPEX testing, despite having no symptoms at all. As a matter of fact, I have been an athlete all my life and completed an Ironman triathlon 3 months after this pneumonia. My v02 max is top 5%. I don't need medication. I can't with my job anyway. I have been obsessing and asking everywhere because this diagnosis will be the end of my career. Could I have the numbers in spirometry indicating COPD yet have no real life symtoms? Is the spirometry nonsene? Or is it a misdiagnosis? Two pulmonologists saw my numbers and said yes it is COPD but just shrugged since it doesn't affect me, but I will lose by job unless I can get this resolved by diagnosis alone. Any ideas? Edit: never smoked a day in my life, but almost my entire nuclear and extended family does. Been exposed a bunch as a kid and my job does have the chance of exposing me to lots of stuff.

[@peterk3556]

They told my mother on the phone that the ct scan showed emphysema but they did not do spirometry could it be that they looked wrong on the ct because since covid i had alot of the same symptoms maybe covid makes the lung look simular. Im just scared i have no idea why they say that so casualy i hope it was wrong And long covid was the problem

[@danielmorse4213]

I never smoked. I have COPD. Drs shove inhailers and do nothing. I have watched my body decay, my diabetes go out of control and my world shrink. Thanks

[@samconway5288]

Interesting. Emphysema is all new to me. My mother passed away with lung cancer, a few years back. At 55 my doctor suggest I have a CT scan low contrast just to make sure everything was clear. First CT scan came back and saw a 6 mm nodule. Follow up one year later nodule unchanged lungs clear. Follow up one year later third scan after I had a severe chest cold, nodule is smaller determine benign, but, now they say I have mild centrilobular emphysema🤷 hopefully it’s missed read because I had severe infection in a chest three months prior of last scan. I’m 55 years old 5‘6“ 168 pounds. I’ve been working out at the gym most of my life. With this new findings, doctor asked me do I have problems breathing? I said no. I feel perfectly fine. I jog one to 2 miles a week with no problems and I go to the gym three times a week. Maybe this is misdiagnosed,maybe not, but with me working out constantly,I have no issues. Is it possible it was mistaken from damage from severe chest infection prior to third CAT scan?

[@FrannyWard]

I believe that you because you workout is why you are not short of breath. I have been sick for a few years with emphysema. I need to excesize

[@samconway5288]

@@FrannyWard did 3 miles this morning. I did Purty good. I guess I will keep going

[@Haveagoodday1760]

Im 39 with stage 2 COPD now in 2018 i had stage 1

[@billsmith007]

Can I start training while using my oxygen? Thank you

[@davidwayne9982]

I don't have COPD-- but grew up with Bronchitis, allergies-ad just simple breathing issues-- to the day!!! (My being BIG doesn't help either -- fat big!!)

[@bettymoore5127]

What is nàc

[@garymoore3446]

Do HIT exercise's

[@dantae666]

I though more muscle cells depleted blood oxygen faster and the goal was efficiency of muscle mass over new cells so body weight and light weights only?

[@GreySteel]

Not at all. COPD is not a disease of oxygenation, but of ventilation. Limitation of muscle mass is NOT indicated for COPD. (Advanced disease DOES affect oxygenation, however, primarily through effects on cardiac output and work of breathing.) And heavy loads for short sets are anaerobic, not aerobic. So strength training is ideal for stable COPD'ers and also for patients with stable heart failure.

[@dantae666]

@@GreySteel interesting. i will double check the science and learn it properly, then advise my patients accordingly. I'm aiming to specialize as a respitory nurse here in the uk

[@beergold]

Have mild Bronchiectasis and Chronic Bronchitis (was a smoker for 30 years), i began training with weights when i was a teenager and never stopped, i find that if i stop for more than 2 weeks my life becomes hell, it feels like my lungs cramp up and they can't absorb enough oxygen, lifting weights is literally a life saver, i am now mostly training just my biceps and forearms and heavy, i am only 10kg off the raw W.R. for bicep curls for my weight and age, i believe if i wasn't sick i would destroy that record, but it's okay, it is what it is, now let me tell you about some of the things that i use to help me and the only things i will use from conventional medicine are antibiotics and that's only when i have some infections, u would be surprised at how effective the ol hot water body on the chest can be sometimes and inhaling colloidal silver on an almost daily basis, these 2 things have saved me countless times from running to the E.R. Allopathic medicine is not the be all and end all of medicine and after what's transpired over this last 3-4 years i will never trust these f@#$%^* quacks ever again.

[@tired4717]

Whats hot water body? Also how do you inhale colodial silver?

[@beergold]

@@tired4717 Hot water bottle, go to your pharmacy or do an internet search on small "Nebuliser", do some research on colloidal silver and look for some that can be inhaled, place some in nebuliser and block your nose and inhale normally 5-10 times one at a time , try it for a couple of days at a time, it really helped me out!!

[@Sunflowers-Pumpkins]

Referral to physical therapy and pulmonary rehab programs need to be improved. Most patients self refer and it isn’t fair to the patients who don’t know these treatments are available

[@dukedex5043]

I got copd at age 30 after smoking for 6 years. Wtf?

[@bobknob8261]

Take NAC 600mg twice a day and make sure you tell your doctor, but otherwise it will improve your lungs

[@bettymoore5127]

What is and

[@bobknob8261]

@@bettymoore5127 NAC does have some interaction with some meds

[@mistyblue526]

I heard they were going to pull NAC. Hopefully they won't...cuz it has helped so many people.

[@jjhndrix4500]

😂😂😂😂

[@user-ze8gh7qu9e]

HE TALKED TO MUCH IN MEDICAL TERMS AND WAY TO LONG. SHOW SOME STARTER EXCERISES FOR HEAVENS SAKE.

[@alanmartins6349]

It's funny in higj achool we would see how many laps under water we xould do . We would put a bunch at the pool and do bench presses before we would start and it would always make us last longer hilding our breath.