BREATH HOLDING AND SELF HARM
Nov 21 , 2018
Question: To the Panel: Is it possible to hold your breath long enough to harm your brain, harmed due to lack of oxygen (or other cause)? I ask because I like to snorkel rather than scuba dive, but I still appreciate diving down as far as I can, and often push myself to the limit on depth and time length. So at what time (or ratio), if any, would I be hurting myself? : Benjamin H
Dear Benjamin: rather than holding your breath when snorkeling, how about exhaling, that is with closed lips leak out bubbles very gently for as long as you can while you are under. I would suggest that you come up for air if possible before it feels uncomfortable and over time that will become easier. I don't have hard data on how long you could go for, but certainly you don't want to push it so far you may become unconscious. We have all heard the CPR & Red Cross quotes that you can become anoxic - lose significant O2 supply to the brain within 3 min, but that is when you are holding your breath. That is very different from developing prolonged exhalation ,which can gradually increase with practice and is best done in your comfort zone. Mike White has many valuable suggestions on that on his web site. Sincerely, Margaret Leong, M.A.,P.T.
To go much deeper into breath holding I highly recommend Breathology by Stig Severinsen. It is a wealth of information that guides one in to state of the art free diving techniques. I've met him. Incredible man.
