Quizzes & Puzzles3 mins ago
holding your breath underwater...
18 Answers
when you breathe in the air oxygenates your blood, so if just before diving, you gasped loads of air, so much so that you began to feel dizzy...would you be able to stay under longer, as your body is very well oxygenated..if you get me...?
it seems logical to me - but if that were the case why dont divers do it etc...unless ive just invented a new technique haha
cheers
it seems logical to me - but if that were the case why dont divers do it etc...unless ive just invented a new technique haha
cheers
Answers
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joko....complicated topic and I think that a Respiratory Physiologist would be better qualified to deal with the problem.
Firstly, the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the blood is complex and does not depend upon how much air one has in one's lungs.Also,there is a maximum amount of air that the lungs can take..i,e you just can't keep filling them up with air like a balloon, because like a balloon, they could over inflate and "burst"
Now the oxygen requirements may be reduced (so that you can stay under water longer) by reducing your heart rate (by relaxing) and moving as little as possible.
Training and adaptation to reduced oxygen is also important.
Hyperventilation...panting and increasing your breathing rate is dangerous, as it blows off your carbon dioxide which is very important.
Firstly, the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the blood is complex and does not depend upon how much air one has in one's lungs.Also,there is a maximum amount of air that the lungs can take..i,e you just can't keep filling them up with air like a balloon, because like a balloon, they could over inflate and "burst"
Now the oxygen requirements may be reduced (so that you can stay under water longer) by reducing your heart rate (by relaxing) and moving as little as possible.
Training and adaptation to reduced oxygen is also important.
Hyperventilation...panting and increasing your breathing rate is dangerous, as it blows off your carbon dioxide which is very important.
I was taught how to hyperventilate as part of the PADI open water SCUBA diving course....there are situations when you need to 'free dive' [basically going under water with out your diving kit on]. You take 3-4 deep breaths then dive. I can swim a length or two of a pool holding my breath and used to be able to sit calmly under the water for 3 1/2 minutes.
So sorry you haven't invented a new technique!
Lisa x
So sorry you haven't invented a new technique!
Lisa x
I'm the same as divegirl, I used to swim at a competitive level (complete with silly training schedule) and also used to dive as a hobby and I was taught to hyperventilate before taking a free dive, so sorry it's definitely not a new technique.
it's also worth knowing that all mammals to a greater or lesser extent have what is called the "Mammalian diving reflex" which basically slows down several aspects of the metabolism to optimise oxygen use for staying underwater.
http://en.wikipedia.o...mmalian_diving_reflex
it's also worth knowing that all mammals to a greater or lesser extent have what is called the "Mammalian diving reflex" which basically slows down several aspects of the metabolism to optimise oxygen use for staying underwater.
http://en.wikipedia.o...mmalian_diving_reflex
I used to teach diving - hyperventillation can be quite dangerous especially when coming up from depth. Competition Free (breath holding) diving has had numerous deaths.
The problem is that it's not getting in the O2 but getting out the CO2. Its the building up of CO2 that gives you that desperate urge to breathe. You've normally got enough O2 for ages after you have to give up and start to breathe from the CO2 build up.
Hyper ventillation flushes out CO2 so you can hold your breath longer. The problem arises if you run out of O2 in your system before the CO2 forces you to breathe.
Normally that's not a problem but in free diving as you get deeper the pressure has an effect (look up partial pressures) that's reduced when ascending - most free diving accidents happen on ascent on the last 10 meters - Blacking out 10m underwater is bad.
The mamalian diving reflex mentioned kicks in slowing the heart etc in cold water and as I recall isn't present or strong in all people but some people exhibit it more than others
The problem is that it's not getting in the O2 but getting out the CO2. Its the building up of CO2 that gives you that desperate urge to breathe. You've normally got enough O2 for ages after you have to give up and start to breathe from the CO2 build up.
Hyper ventillation flushes out CO2 so you can hold your breath longer. The problem arises if you run out of O2 in your system before the CO2 forces you to breathe.
Normally that's not a problem but in free diving as you get deeper the pressure has an effect (look up partial pressures) that's reduced when ascending - most free diving accidents happen on ascent on the last 10 meters - Blacking out 10m underwater is bad.
The mamalian diving reflex mentioned kicks in slowing the heart etc in cold water and as I recall isn't present or strong in all people but some people exhibit it more than others
Jake is right.
As you ascend in the last 10m, where the biggest relative change in pp occurs, the partial pressure of the residual oxygen can drop rapidly to a point below the level needed to maintain consciousness.
You won't have been aware of this, because hyperventilating flushed out the CO2 which would have alerted your body to the need to take a breath.
BTW ... I can hold my breath underwater for just over 2 minutes ... it's my party piece!
As you ascend in the last 10m, where the biggest relative change in pp occurs, the partial pressure of the residual oxygen can drop rapidly to a point below the level needed to maintain consciousness.
You won't have been aware of this, because hyperventilating flushed out the CO2 which would have alerted your body to the need to take a breath.
BTW ... I can hold my breath underwater for just over 2 minutes ... it's my party piece!
i must admit why two lengths was some time ago too ;O}.
Am also aware of the co2 thing, but assumed that as the OP most probably doesn't have access to anything deeper than a swimming pool it wasn't really an issue. I can still hold my breath for about three minutes on land....my party trick...well it keeps the kids amused lol
Lisa x
Am also aware of the co2 thing, but assumed that as the OP most probably doesn't have access to anything deeper than a swimming pool it wasn't really an issue. I can still hold my breath for about three minutes on land....my party trick...well it keeps the kids amused lol
Lisa x
Any deep breaths that flush out the residual CO2 from the lungs would count as hyperventilation.
If you breathe aaaaaaallllll the way in, and aaaaaallll the way out just a couple of times ...
... you're there.
The hard bit is forcing the air right out of your lungs, so that the breath you take in gives you a lungful of O2 as close as possible to 20%.
If you breathe aaaaaaallllll the way in, and aaaaaallll the way out just a couple of times ...
... you're there.
The hard bit is forcing the air right out of your lungs, so that the breath you take in gives you a lungful of O2 as close as possible to 20%.
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