Hi there! Have you ever wondered what happens when you hold your breath? Breathing is something we do automatically, about 19,000 times a day, without even thinking about it. But when we stop breathing, like when diving underwater, our bodies go through some interesting changes. Let’s dive into what happens and why it’s important to be careful.
Breathing is essential because it brings oxygen into our bodies, which our cells use to create energy. As our cells work, they produce carbon dioxide, which we need to exhale. When you hold your breath, carbon dioxide starts to build up because you’re not exhaling it. This buildup signals your brain that you need oxygen, and that’s when things start to feel uncomfortable.
Initially, you might feel a burning sensation in your lungs. After a while, you could experience involuntary muscle spasms in your diaphragm and around your ribs, along with feeling lightheaded. But don’t worry, you won’t die just from holding your breath. If you hold it long enough to pass out, your body’s autonomic nervous system will kick in to make you breathe again, as long as you’re not underwater.
If you hold your breath underwater, your body activates something called the mammalian diving reflex. This reflex helps conserve oxygen for vital organs like your brain and heart by slowing your heart rate and reducing blood flow to your limbs. It’s a survival mechanism that all mammals, and possibly all vertebrates, have. Interestingly, this reflex is only triggered by cold water on your face, which is why people can hold their breath longer underwater.
Did you know that the world record for holding one’s breath is over 24 minutes? Aleix Segura Vendrell achieved this by breathing pure oxygen first. Without pure oxygen, the record is held by Branko Petrovic at 11 minutes and 54 seconds. These feats are impressive, but definitely not something to try at home!
There isn’t enough research to say if holding your breath repeatedly has long-term effects. Some studies suggest no permanent damage, while others indicate potential risks. For instance, divers have shown elevated levels of a protein that might suggest brain damage, but more research is needed to be sure.
If you’re interested in exploring the ocean but aren’t a trained freediver, there are safer ways to do it. For example, some companies are developing suits that act like personal submarines, allowing you to explore underwater without holding your breath for long periods.
Remember, it’s always important to take care of your body and be cautious with activities like breath-holding. If you have more questions about how your body works, feel free to ask and keep learning!
Try holding your breath and observe what happens to your body. Note any sensations like a burning feeling in your lungs or muscle spasms. Discuss with your classmates why these reactions occur and how they relate to the buildup of carbon dioxide in your body.
Investigate the mammalian diving reflex by researching how it works in different animals. Create a presentation to share your findings with the class, focusing on how this reflex helps conserve oxygen and its significance in survival.
Participate in a role-play activity where you and your classmates act out the process of oxygen entering the body and carbon dioxide being expelled. This will help you understand the importance of breathing and the effects of holding your breath.
Research the current world records for breath-holding and the techniques used by record-holders. Discuss the physiological changes that occur during these attempts and why it’s not safe to try replicating these feats without proper training.
Work in groups to design a concept for a safe diving suit that allows people to explore underwater without holding their breath. Present your design to the class, explaining how it addresses the challenges of underwater exploration.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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How long was that? Hi, I’m Amy here for DNews. Breathing is a reflex, and we do it about 19,000 times a day without even thinking. However, when we hold our breath or our breathing is interrupted, such as when diving too deep, several things happen in our bodies. Please, don’t try this at home.
We breathe to take in oxygen, which powers our cells and provides energy. In this process, cells release carbon dioxide, which we exhale. When you hold your breath, the carbon dioxide that would normally be exhaled starts to build up in your body. Your brain senses the need for oxygen, and when you can’t take it in, the buildup can become uncomfortable. Initially, you may feel a burning sensation in your lungs, and after some time, you might experience involuntary spasms in your diaphragm and the muscles around your ribs, along with lightheadedness.
It’s important to note that you won’t die just from holding your breath. If you hold your breath long enough to lose consciousness, your autonomic nervous system, which regulates breathing, blood pressure, and other automatic functions, will activate to restore your breathing. This assumes you are not underwater and can breathe in. If you hold your breath underwater, your body activates the mammalian diving reflex, which helps preserve oxygen for vital organs like the brain and heart by slowing your heart rate and reducing blood flow to the limbs. This is essentially your body’s way of conserving oxygen.
According to a paper published by the American Physiological Society, it is likely that all mammals and possibly all vertebrates have similar diving reflexes. However, the mammalian diving reflex can only be triggered by cold water on the face, which is why people can hold their breath longer underwater compared to when they are in other situations.
The free diver Aleix Segura Vendrell currently holds the world record for breath-holding at just over 24 minutes, but he achieved this after filling his lungs with pure oxygen first. Without that, the record for longest breath-holding in freediving is held by Branko Petrovic at 11 minutes and 54 seconds, which is still quite impressive. Seriously, don’t try this at home.
It’s unclear if there are any permanent effects from repeatedly holding your breath. One study of divers published in The Clinical Neuropsychologist showed no long-term neurological damage in divers. However, another study by the American Physiological Society found that divers had elevated levels of the protein S100B, which could indicate potential brain damage. It’s important to note that these studies involved small sample sizes, so more research is needed.
If you want to take care of your body, consider trying Graze.com. Graze offers a variety of nutritious snacks made from wholesome ingredients combined with flavors we all love. Visit graze.com and enter promo code DNEWS to receive a free sampler box delivered to your home or workplace!
What if you’re not a trained freediver but still want to explore the ocean? Check out this video on a company developing a suit that acts as a personal submarine. If you have any other questions about the human body that you’d like us to explore, let us know in the comments, subscribe, and come back for more DNews every day!
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This version removes informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s meaning.
Breathing – The process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs – During exercise, your breathing rate increases to supply more oxygen to your muscles.
Oxygen – A gas that is essential for the survival of most living organisms as it is used in cellular respiration – Plants release oxygen into the air as a byproduct of photosynthesis.
Carbon Dioxide – A gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration – Humans exhale carbon dioxide as a waste product of cellular respiration.
Lungs – Organs in the chest that are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide – The lungs expand and contract as you breathe in and out.
Diaphragm – A dome-shaped muscle that plays a crucial role in breathing by contracting and relaxing – The diaphragm moves downward when you inhale, allowing your lungs to fill with air.
Reflex – An automatic response to a stimulus that occurs without conscious thought – The knee-jerk reflex is a common example of a reflex action in humans.
Heart – A muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body – The heart beats faster during physical activity to deliver more oxygen to the muscles.
Mammals – A class of warm-blooded animals that have hair or fur and produce milk for their young – Humans, dogs, and whales are all examples of mammals.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions – Scientists conduct research to understand how different species adapt to their environments.
Ocean – A vast body of saltwater that covers almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface – The ocean is home to a diverse range of marine life, from tiny plankton to massive whales.
