What Holding Your Breath Does To Your Body

Is holding your breath bad for you? And did you know that you can hold it longer underwater than you can on land?
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Read More:
Ask Smithsonian: What's The Longest You Can Hold Your Breath?
www.smithsonianmag.com/smithso...
"Olympic swimmers seem to be able to go great distances without breathing, but that is primarily due to aerobic conditioning, says Cowl. Those athletes are more efficient at getting oxygen into the tissue and extracting carbon dioxide. That allows them to breathe more effectively, and potentially, improve their breath holding."
Why Do I Feel Lightheaded When Bodybuilding?
www.livestrong.com/article/391...
"The lack of oxygen intake while performing a strenuous action almost instantaneously causes the heart to beat faster, causing higher blood pressure. The heart does this to deliver the oxygen the body needs to complete the action."
How The Dive Reflex Extends Breath-Holding
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
"Second, the diving reflex makes capillaries in the skin and limbs constrict, redirecting blood away from the body's surface and toward the vital organs. This shift saves more oxygen for the brain and heart, but to a degree it also seems to fortify the torso against the crushing effects of water pressure at great depth. Moreover, it helps to preserve the body's core temperature in icy water."
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Written By: Jennie Butler

[@ximenapaola0]

"please don't try this at home" can i do it outside my home?

[@banialy4852]

DemonZ BlooD or mine i have free candy :}

[@jctoad]

Vintage Princess Jellyfish Yes you can. but if you were a snail, you would have a problem.

[@kevray]

It's ok as long at it isn't at home

[@TheKamiigirl]

Vintage Princess Jellyfish does the garage count?

[@antoniocoleman9200]

smarty pants😀

[@srbutrej01]

when I was younger I used to think that holding my breath would let me live longer because I wasn't "wasting" oxygen.

[@dettol7245]

No shit

[@rickyd3987]

+Dettol The key word in his paragraph is "used to".

[@srbutrej01]

C1B Gaming Channel Yeah I Know, I was one fucking stupid 8 year old

[@roiroije6326]

So like, you held your breath a lot every day?

[@srbutrej01]

Yeah bro. I would just be walking in the store & my dumb little ass would say "Oh I almost forgot to hold my breath I can't waste no precious oxygen!"

[@iinatedogii5053]

I hate when you become aware of your breathing

[@notmyname8348]

IINate DogII me too

[@spectraphantom9374]

You son of a bitch, now I'm aware of my breathing

[@Ayesha_5782]

IINate DogII Same

[@raquelfenton334]

IINate DogII YEA NOW IM AWEAR OF MY BREATHING! 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤

[@dexxgotnexx]

Rylee Oxley 😂😂

[@UtimateGearsPlayer]

Did you know that if you hold your breath long enough you can sleep forever.

[@iizvullok]

No but did you know that dying is the most common cause of death?

[@tilberin]

Alvulnax incorrect . dying is the only cause of death

[@iizvullok]

Nano Saber Don't you say.

[@nejx8711]

Nano Saber Dying isn't the only cause of death. It's one of the most popular, but not the only😂

[@tilberin]

KobraNejc 420 bro double check youre facts before posting. this is obviously a lie

[@firelow]

Manual breathing mode is now on.

[@dad6873]

William Pereira Gomes HA. HA. HA. 😑 I have to manually breath now! I DON'T LIKE MANUALLY DOING THINGS!!! 😭

[@Master_Therion]

Me: I bet I can stay underwater longer than you. Professional diver: Don't hold your breath.

[@JL-yg3ku]

Lol

[@gangstashanksta]

The sight of Amy is breath taking....If I could just get one night with her and chlorine and a napkin....

[@Master_Therion]

Dragon Ball Super Do you mean chloroform? Or are into some weird disinfection fetish? lol

[@batmantheboss3260]

Master Therion 😂😂

[@brianmyers9989]

Awesome thread. Too funny.

[@angelosmavridis8201]

He filled his lungs with pure oxygen. Pure oxygen. Pure fucking oxygen ?!

[@JCavLP]

Aggelos Mavridis must've been an amazing high

[@glockel4308]

+DJC9000 Productions n.... no

[@ZillaJHL]

You are now breathing manually.

[@frenzy_wicked3450]

J31 Screw you 😂😂😂😂

[@KimJongUnTheOneAndOnly]

You are now blinking manually.

[@2b.a2]

J31 ...i hate u

[@gracesci4779]

J31 No I'm not I don't think about when I'm breathing except for when I really concentrate

[@Adderoo002]

I was looking for this...

[@NYRalltheway14]

i held my breath for the duration of this video

[@Idominusrex]

Same, I like not being alone ^w^

[@a_nother_nerd1236]

what if I don't try it at home... I do it at the public pool

[@idkman2720]

your profile pic match with your comment 👌

[@braianr.7]

I never inflate my cheeks when I hold my breath :/

[@roiroije6326]

Why?

[@xkaosxvpx8165]

braianr7 same

[@redpillwill686]

The Batter because there's no need, you can just not breathe lol.

[@sirjoemega3744]

@Sajid's Toys Review same

[@FaithfulOfBrigantia]

@@roiroije6326 To inflate your cheeks you need an air pressure inside your mouth above the atmosphere (otherwise your cheeks would be permanently inflated), and to cause this pressure what you do is blowing with your mouth shut, so essentially all the extra air in your mouth isn't really "extra" but came out of your lungs anyway. You cannot completely fill your lungs and then inflate your mouth, because you need to blow to inflate the cheeks. Try it for yourself, fill your lunges with air and inflate your cheeks, now inhale the air inside your cheeks, did you manage to do it? Yes, which means there is always more space in the lungs for that extra air in your mouth. Now inhale as much as you can again and don't inflate the cheeks, then try to inflate them by "biting" extra air... you can't, you need to blow them, and thus loose air in your lungs. The only advantage of inflating the cheeks is that you lower the air pressure on your lungs, so you can store the same amount of air inside you without completely overstretching your lungs. I usually inflate my cheeks when my chest is tired of being so inflated.

[@BlackieSootfur]

what if you don't breathe in? Like the opposite of holding your breath in

[@pineappleagent1]

You pass out a little faster

[@FaithfulOfBrigantia]

It starts to feel unconfortable immediately, instead of only 20-50 seconds later.

[@ZeroFlowers]

Technically speaking, you can (in ratio) hold your breath for longer because your body has gotten rid of 40% or more kf the carbon dioxide that would be there if you had held your breath in. But you won't be able to keep from breathing as long by doing this that you would if you had taken oxygen in because your body reacts more to not having Oxygen than to CO2 build up

[@user-dr1pu8ny3t]

ま

[@PARTYDROPSS]

Hi Blackie ^^ why am I seeing u everywhere

[@equalistaastha]

Who else is still breathing in 2016?

[@adomsmiles3178]

pshhh people still breath?

[@sicfxmusic]

yes some hipsters do

[@AlexCoburn]

*I'm sure not*

[@UtimateGearsPlayer]

LMFAOOOOOOOOOO

[@tristan2203]

Anonymous Artist You are clearly a conspiracy theorist

[@zasfp]

Dang it how'd you know I was one of those breathers

[@Bluxxa]

Who else held their breaths when watching the video?

[@aronmoehn2091]

Bluxxa 2/3rd of the vid

[@cptawesome5234]

Bluxxa 3 MINUTES?? I can only hold my breath for 50~ seconds

[@aronmoehn2091]

Me 1:50

[@VictorThePotato]

Who else lost their brain cells watching this video?

[@SideBit]

1:26 with Asthma.

[@RayyTX]

If I can't do it at home can I do it outside

[@noetie9948]

Hey Baus permission granted

[@imkaitandihavecat3853]

ey b0ss pink guy

[@girlystuff7868]

ey b0ss or a friends house

[@dakotafugate25]

Technically,that’s still “home” so,go to a friends or somewhere else and then. You may have permission. Lol 😂

[@alyssahall4638]

He copied somebody else's commet

[@ahmedsanai7160]

God made at us so freakin complex. We are beautifully created :")

[@anathefatshamer4974]

God FTW and I hate the Metric system too............

[@ProGangstaShit]

Ahmed Saif god didn't make you, your mom and dad did

[@drunksanta1427]

what did the metric system do to you? its used by everyone except the USA and some weird country in asia

[@Nilguiri]

Any evidence for that, buddy? No, I thought not. This is a science channel, mate.

[@tw3ist]

+Ryan . Why do you have to be a jerk?

[@AdityaKumar-gc1yq]

I tried not to breathe to get unconscious because I wasn't able to sleep :P But then thought ,am I gonna die?

[@ChloeE623]

So I’ve been practicing holding my breath for as long as I can remember. I’ve been able to trigger the mammalian diving reflex before, and I’ve gotten to about a minute thirty before. I’ve been training holding my breath because, simply, I think it’s fun. When I was at my longest, I remember my diaphragm spasming, my stomach violently going in and out, but it wasn’t painful. I’ve yet to reach the point where extra oxygen is released, and I don’t plan to. I think my record of a minute thirty is enough for me for right now

[@targashsensei7900]

I just decided to hold my breath at the start at the video, did it to the end and i think i can do more It's my first time doing it

[@JeremyEllwood]

Wait... don't try holding your breath under water at home? But...

[@BloomingFields]

I just held my breath and would not breath no matter what, I just kept holding my breath to see what’re I could get, eventually, my head was heating up, my ears were burning, and I felt like I was leaving my body, like I was zooming out on a game or something. Suffocating is actually soothing though

[@FunkyRL]

can you do a video for what holding your breath does to your body when you take a huge bong rip?

[@aminghanbari3687]

Thanks for making this

[@Kevin-tt5ym]

Fine, I won't breath a school then

[@simonk19]

Hi DNews I have a question about the body: What would happen if we breathed pure oxygen? Would that have any effect on the body? Hope you make a video on this.

[@austinwallace3824]

Simon Sajan Kumar Breathing in pure oxygen would be extremely toxic to the human body. I think a couple percentages higher than usual (so around 25%) can cause blindness. I don't know much about it and the specific reasons for it though.

[@TheKamiigirl]

Simon Sajan Kumar We would not be able to do this.We breathe 78% nitrogen and only 21% oxygen.The rest is water vapor and what not

[@simonk19]

But then how could the guy mentioned in the video hold his breath for 22 minutes using only pure oxygen?

[@ThatSoddingGamer]

Presumably, he doesn't do it often, and was fortunate that he didn't suffer any real side effects (well, they didn't say he did anyway). It's something that you can generally get away with under certain circumstances. For example, if you're having a lot of trouble breathing, doctors might put you on pure oxygen to compensate for the lack of air flow. So you're breathing pure oxygen (or at least a higher ratio), but it's somewhat offset by the limited air flow. Even then, it's not ideal, it's usually intended as a temporary measure, until they can restore more normal breathing.

[@JazzyNym]

He only did it once. Breathing in pure oxygen for one breathe was actually helpful in his case cause then there was extra oxygen for his body to absorb as it was used (since he couldn't refresh the oxygen by taking a breath). Normally, however, you are constantly breathing meaning the extra oxygen would quickly exceed your body's ability to carry it away and wreak havoc on your body's systems.

[@BlueBD]

dont try this at home. Please im sure people tend to do this at least once a day out of boredom.

[@teacherluizantonio3633]

Thanks 4 sharing!!! Have a nice day!!!! U sure deserve my thumbsup!!!!

[@himalrana4177]

thanks for your advice

[@lasarith2]

Well that's 3 minutes I won't get back -off to read the comments

[@RocketLR]

I dont get any pains while holding my breath for long? :S i once swam under water while competing with a guy until i literary thought i was gonna faint. I was so determined to win by the time he gave up, i grasped for air and got a MAJOR headache in the upper part of my head. This ache was so painful and like no headache ive ever had before. But no pain in lungs or another part of the body :S

[@VintageLJ]

That was probably the death of a bunch of neurons.

[@daniellbondad6670]

+VintageLJ Actually,brain cells don't feel pain. +RocketLR Must be on your skull.

[@RocketLR]

Well im not surprised that lack of oxygen can give you massive headaches. Its just the part of the head that i got it in that was new. also the amount of pain.

[@philipluxembourg9013]

brilliant execution

[@StudentSeng]

Breathtaking video!

[@jellebastiaans2857]

*My grandpa is the best in holding his breath* I miss you grandpa

[@yesyoucanTellme]

Bruh

[@infrieser]

Manual breathing ACTIVATED!

[@tantdx8803]

Needed this for my science respiration system homework on the side effect of holding your breath too long.

[@cousin._.nxiety4073]

I once reached a limit when ur muscles begin to contract while holding breath for about 1 min, 25 secs... It was to be honest changing from pain to relaxation... But then I felt a sudden, terrible pain rose within me which absolutely forced me breath right fuckin' away!

[@yo-yonoob1571]

I can hold my breathe for 1 minute and 34 seconds. I'm proud of myself.

[@nigg1612]

Can i do it with the supervision of an adult? Please respond.

[@5ceonware]

Nope.

[@mitsync]

Hey! I didn't know Amy also does DNews. I love vintage space!

[@scarface6654]

MCommandguy lol that's what I just found out to

[@001100AAAEA]

Good video

[@ivan9101]

*Manually Breathing*

[@leonhardolaye-felix4590]

When I was young my brother told me that when you got to year 11 your had to breath more to release more carbon dioxide to help the amazon rainforest grow. I was so damn gullible.

[@ThijmenDF]

Well, I've never been this early on a video from Dnews :D

[@lochinvar00465]

I used to swim laps underwater. My best was 2.5 pool lengths (160 ft pool) before I came back up to the surface mostly out of caution rather than any real stress. Sitting on my couch at home, I can hold it at least 3 minutes.

[@-hum4n-019]

I can hold my breath for 4 min easily

[@kenichiotaku3693]

I find it harder to hold my breath underwater than on land and I think it's because of the pressure applied to my chest by the water and the longest I've gone without breathing (on land) was 64 seconds.

[@QUINTUSMAXIMUS]

If you do Wim Hof, you will easily do 90 seconds. I go up to 2 minutes and ten seconds. Most ever was 3.

[@JamesD401]

D news is the best kind of news

[@Nick.YT01]

host seems like such a pleasant person. great video anyway!

[@Finnv893]

excuse me but what doesnt cause brain damage?

[@evil9716]

dying

[@aspirerl4807]

chaopz zombies

[@Lkonae]

I like it when girls colour their hair. It makes it easy to identify which girls to avoid.

[@jaspriest1997]

Lkonae I like it when guys give unwanted sexist opinions online. It makes it easy to identify which boys to avoid.

[@Lkonae]

J. Jabba Just doing some community service Mr Knight.

[@SolunaPiano]

How is that sexist? Not liking girls who dye their hair is just personal preference.

[@auraaa_2991]

Lkonae brah

[@shesnotherenow]

💀💀

[@inhlamnguyen7406]

why do we have goosebump when listening to specific sound like sponge,..?

[@ataboyboyboy8895]

at 64 I can hold my breath easily for 1 minute. Also underwater. No practice at all. Just tried few times in the last couple of weeks. I will keep training it now I know the benefits 🙂 I will aim now for 2 minutes.

[@Obscurewatchcollector]

Those bangs cause me physical pain

[@mopiwide6074]

think of your breath and try to listen to yourself breathing. congratulations, you are now annoyed of your own breath

[@niallkeane3794]

just saying that diaphram spasms dont actually hurt for say. there are 3 stages to holding your breath 1- comfortable stage 2- spasms 3- the uncomfortable stage. its not dangerous to go into the dangerous stage as when theres threats to your health youll pass out. its normal and is like uncontrolable swallowing and is from your diaphram spasming to try and force you o take a breath.

[@user-oh6wb5rj2q]

"So you know the line... more research is needed"😂👍🏻 precisely thats what im thinking at that time too

[@salvatoretessio4932]

I have been unintentionally holding my breath to an extent for 4 months straight. I'm tired of this. This is Hell.

[@missava9783]

LITERALLY IT IS

[@TheRealShaiLamar]

Can you do a video about what happens to out body when we sleep please?

[@ScattOnWalls]

Why does people say "dont do this at home" this obviously wants me to do it now that she mentioned it.

[@xiaoxiaoxiao686]

Sometimes happens to me when I wake up that I forget to breathe (it took a while for me to realize what was really happening) and I start getting tingling sensations and sometimes hallucinations until I take a deep breath, and I don’t feel the need to breathe at all. Anyone else?

[@Eric_D_6]

I'm pretty sure she said not to try breathing at the beginning and not to hold your breath at the end.What are we supposed to do then?

[@davey_edwards]

No mention of Wim Hoff breathing technique? An episode on that would be sweet

[@purerice5824]

My heart is starting to beat faster when watching this video holding my breath

[@lucidjamesxxx254]

What atom reactions look like up close please make a video !! Thanks

[@grapes4315]

i actually tried to pass out in class by holding my breath

[@maya-nn7fr]

same lmao💀

[@ThatSoddingGamer]

I tried timing myself some time ago (I think two years ago?) in response to a forum thread. I managed to get to 2:30 before calling it quits, but if I really pushed it I might have managed closer to 3 minutes, but I didn't because it was just for an internet post, so no sense suffering. I was actually surprised that the other people had significantly shorter times than mine, for the most part. I'm not a fit person, about the only things I can say in my favour is that I'm not a smoker (of anything), and on the rare occasions when I go swimming, I prefer to swim under water, going as deep as I can (which generally isn't very).

[@irek1394]

I did 4:05 while in school :D I stopped to feel the strong need to breath after 3min+ but i was starting to feel like I will pass out so i stopped there

[@prestonplayzminecraft8116]

Me: thinks about my breathing My lungs: now i wont do it

[@8000Alexander]

aww I was hoping for a more in depth video that went into effects on specific organs or cells

[@javiersingh3840]

....Ima try this when i get home

[@jessicakinsman2782]

when you hold your breath: Fine for now. Starting to think over and over again, "I need air I need air I need air". Face turns blue, pink, etc. Lungs feel like they are going to burst. you finely let your air out. Hold your breath for too long: Blackout

[@darraghmartin7326]

are we alowed to do this in a park?

[@intesarhaquekhan6137]

does extensive anxiety causes sudden palpitations or heart problems ?

[@Abdullah-dc9wq]

I'm going to hold breath thorough this all entire video

[@heavenhancock2002]

What happens if you hold your breath for 5 minutes but not underwater will it cause you to pass out

[@pillowsmossquid]

What happens if you keep breathing in

[@ceedogg3247]

No wonder why my breathing is messed tf up

[@cloudshark0]

I can hold my breathe for very long I never could do this someone help me idk what to do my body stops breathing

[@elite_cows1552]

how about what happens if you take nitrous and hold your breath

[@kuhk2728]

Is it normal that I kinda like to hold my breath? Because when I do it and I’m really relaxed I feel this weird sensational and I kinda feel weightless and it’s a good feeling it also feels like my skin is vibrating

[@aidansarkozy9545]

It is perfectly fine to hold your breath. With enough will power any adult can hold their breath for at least 5 minutes before losing consciousness and then letting systems kick back in.

[@dvnhrms]

I have a question! why do are hands/feet always are "falling asleep)?

[@nikanj]

With practice most people can easily achieve 2-5 minutes on dry land. First relax (lie down if you can) and try to lower your heart rate as much as possible. Then when you're ready take a VERY deep breath in and DON'T EXHALE. Hold your breath for as long as you can and when you can't bare it anymore start slowly exhaling (this will get you an extra 30 seconds or more). Most people find that with the correct technique they can hold their breath for 1-2 minutes on their first try and longer with practice. If you can't hold your breath for more than 30 seconds it's likely because you didn't take a deep enough breath or exhaled too soon.

[@franzkylemagadia9385]

#Seeker are there any researches now that tells whether holding breaths has any effects on us???

[@azzsvj6176]

when they say don't try at home....can i try it out side??

[@fragoulakys5651]

I held my breath under water and when i came back to surface the back side of my brain was hurting a lot , i really am scared idk what it was it still hurts

[@fatyoshi8348]

Can i try this out side if not at home

[@bleachy4947]

any one got suggestions for good headphones

[@deadcat1o173]

So can i try it at the hospital

[@vishwanathm6620]

I am a big fan of discovery since childhood and now I became fan of amy of d news

[@rahuldadgale8817]

Yes

[@nenzskie]

I hold my breathe for 2 minutes under warm water and I let someone feet to step my back so that I won't float , but after that I caught up blood it was a fresh blood. Is it dangerous?

[@darkawd9243]

Just with the right Technic I was able to improve my breath holding underwater from 30 sec to two mins without even struggling.

[@Hannah-qg3fp]

i sometimes hold my breath in when im nervous. dont know why

[@MooseX2012]

I inheld and hold my breath for a few seconds to stretch my lounges? Idk but it feels good

[@mikeb6410]

Heyyyy it's the girl from Vintage Space. Cool :)

[@fupathegreat7196]

+1 if you are breathing while watching youtube

[@ettoresalvatore9437]

+1 if you read the above comment and then didn't +1 it.

[@fupathegreat7196]

Ettore Salvatore it was supposed to be a joke pff

[@justhallowed8499]

Often when i hold my breath, i find mucus building up if i do it long enough.

[@viktorvanchov3093]

What don't try this at home!? i am almost always under water and no one told me to not hold my breath under water.

[@964560abc]

I know this is a weird question lol but someone wants to know if sitting on someone's face will make them pass out after so long or would kill them.

[@aapkapawan6269]

Actually i was doing a one kind of exercise with the breathing and i suddenly fall and hurt by the floor. Is this is serious matter is it can cause death or not?