Why do we have to breathe?

Question

Why do we have to breathe?

Answer 1

if we dont we'll die.  

Answer 2

because oxygen is an reactant of cellular respiration, the process of creating energy for life's processes

Answer 3

Because we need oxygen. Our body uses oxygen as an oxidizer of fuel. Without oxygen we would not be able to convert our food to usable energy in the body.

Answer 4

Humans breathe because our brain and other internal organs need oxygen to survive. It's not your blood that needs oxygen, blood transports oxygen to your organs.

Answer 5

In order for humans to survive, our bodies have figured out various ways to extract energy from out surroundings.

One of the ways is with food, which provides out cells with raw materials to make, repair and replace out cells as needed.

A different kind of energy we need is that which allows us to make use of these raw materials.  The body has figured out a way to extract this from oxygen.  When you inhale, the oxygen in the air is absorbed into your bloodstream through tiny sacs in your lungs, called alveoli.

As soon as the oxygen enters your blood, a passing protein molecule called hemoglobin picks it up.  Each molecule of hemoglobin can transport four molecules of oxygen to almost anywhere in the body.

The hemoglobin transport the oxygen to your cells where another protein, called cytochrome C oxidase makes two molecules of water out of every four molecules of oxygen delivered to it. When this happens, there is a little bit of energy released.  

This protein cytochrome C oxidase, mixes the ingredients for water and harvests the released energy.  The cells then use the energy to perform the everyday functions that your body needs.

Answer 6

Well beacause our blood needs oxygen, to get oxygen we have to breathe air. Simple.

Answer 7

Obviously, we breath to get oxygen into our bodies!

However, what isn't as obvious is that we need oxygen to fuel Cellular Respiration, a process of taking organic materials, and converting them into Energy. Energy is NEEDED for us to live, and survive. Without energy, coming form Cellular Respiration...driven by oxygen, our organ wouldn't be able to function, and we would die!

However, Cellular respiration is QUITE an extensive process, covered in most college courses.