Is holding your breath bad?

Question

when i heard david broke the record for 17 minutes i thought it would be nice to hold your breath longer than normal (to show off i guess) but i want to know if it is damaging in any way?

btw i can do 2:30 so far,increased by a minute in just one day

but i dont want to be braindamaged by the end of this week

Answer 1

For people that do this for a living, it doesn't damage their brain.  They have spent years training their body to accept lower oxygen levels and have built up resistance to it.

You should be fine as long as you aren't pushing the envelope to hard.  Pain while holding your breath is completely fine, but when that pain stops it signifys you are about to pass out extremely soon.  Take it slowly and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

I take it you are talking of David Blaine? He is an illusionist so be wary of what you are trying to match against.

Breath hold diving has many records one of which is static apnea. This is where competitors hold there breath in relatively shallow water and don't move. Current records are 9 mins 15 secs for men and 8 mins for women. Another discipline is dynamic apnea which refers to swimming underwater in a pool or the sea for as long as possible on one breath. Current records for this are 244 metres for men and 205 metres for women.

These disciplines, obviously involving water, require support divers in attendance. Holding your breath for a long period on the surface is probably something that should be attempted with someone in support. You are depriving your body of a natural function. The build up of CO2 is the body's trigger to breath. If you fight this the the body can force the issue of breathing by knocking you out. My advice would be to keep practicing, read about the sbject but above all be careful.

Answer 3

yes very be careful!!!

sarahjo

Answer 4

Who's David? 17 minutes would cause brain damage.