Holding Your Breath and Brain Damage

In summary: The one exemption is when a young person stops breathing and also becomes abnormally cool at the same time. This can happen when a kid is instantly plunged into very cold water and drowns. In this scenario, survival after more than 30 minutes has been known to occur.
  • #1
Julio R
51
1
How long would it take for your brain to be permanently damaged after holding your breath? In other words, after how long of holding your breath will your brain function be at risk?

A quick Google search gave me varied results. :confused:
 
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  • #2
Julio R said:
How long would it take for your brain to be permanently damaged after holding your breath? In other words, after how long of holding your breath will your brain function be at risk?

A quick Google search gave me varied results. :confused:

You will most probably faint before causing any damage and start breathing again sub-consciously.
but still:
wiki said:
Prolonged apnea leads to severe lack of oxygen in the blood circulation. Permanent brain damage can occur after as little as three minutes and death will inevitably ensue after a few more minutes unless ventilation is restored. However, under special circumstances such as hypothermia, hyperbaric oxygenation, apneic oxygenation (see below), or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, much longer periods of apnea may be tolerated without severe consequences.
Untrained humans cannot sustain voluntary apnea for more than one or two minutes[citation needed]. The reason for the time limit of voluntary apnea is that the rate of breathing and the volume of each breath are tightly regulated to maintain constant values of CO2 tension and pH of the blood. In apnea, CO2 is not removed through the lungs and accumulates in the blood. The consequent rise in CO2 tension and drop in pH result in stimulation of the respiratory centre in the brain which eventually cannot be overcome voluntarily.
 
  • #3
After 5 to 10 minutes of not breathing, you are likely to create serious and probably permanent brain damage.
The one exemption is when a young person stops breathing and also becomes abnormally cool at the same time. This can happen when a kid is instantly plunged into very cold water and drowns. In this scenario, survival after more than 30 minutes has been known to occur.
 
  • #4
paulmarin said:
The one exemption is when a young person stops breathing and also becomes abnormally cool at the same time. This can happen when a kid is instantly plunged into very cold water and drowns. In this scenario, survival after more than 30 minutes has been known to occur.

How can this occur ?
 
  • #5
Both act to slow down metabolism so less damage occurs. The state is called suspended animation. Last time I heard about it, they were using hydrogen sulfide which has a similar effect to not breathing (it blocks oxygen). The studies were in trials, but the trials got withdrawn in 2011.
 
  • #6
Pythagorean said:
Both act to slow down metabolism so less damage occurs. The state is called suspended animation. Last time I heard about it, they were using hydrogen sulfide which has a similar effect to not breathing (it blocks oxygen). The studies were in trials, but the trials got withdrawn in 2011.

I think they used suspended animation to operate on baby mice during regenerating research. It put them in a" dead-like" state.
 

1. Can holding your breath cause brain damage?

Yes, holding your breath for an extended period of time can cause brain damage. When we hold our breath, our body's oxygen levels decrease, and our brain cells can become damaged or even die without enough oxygen.

2. How long does it take for brain damage to occur from holding your breath?

The amount of time it takes for brain damage to occur from holding your breath varies from person to person. In general, brain damage can occur after 3-4 minutes of not breathing, but this can vary based on factors such as lung capacity and overall health.

3. What are the symptoms of brain damage from holding your breath?

The symptoms of brain damage from holding your breath include confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures, and even coma. In severe cases, brain damage can also result in permanent brain damage and even death.

4. Is there a safe way to hold your breath without causing brain damage?

Yes, there are safe ways to hold your breath without causing brain damage. These include practicing controlled breathing exercises and gradually increasing the time in which you hold your breath. It is important to never push your limits and always listen to your body's signals.

5. Can children hold their breath longer than adults without risking brain damage?

No, children are not immune to the effects of holding their breath for too long. In fact, children may be at a higher risk for brain damage as their brains are still developing and may be more sensitive to oxygen deprivation.

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