How long can you hold your breath?

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Matrix Glitch
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23 Sep 2022, 8:02 am

For some reason I suddenly go curious about how long I can hold my breath.
I'm 60, have mild asthma, and overweight.
I was able to hold my breath for 45 seconds.
I read the average person should be able to hold their breath for 45 to 90 seconds.



Radish
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23 Sep 2022, 8:10 am

In my youth around 90 seconds, I loved to swim underwater too. Not a challenge I'm willing to try nowadays, similar challenges on TickTock have led to the deaths of a number of children, so probably best not to encourage folks to find out anyway.


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CockneyRebel
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23 Sep 2022, 8:15 am

I can only hold my breath for 5 seconds


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Matrix Glitch
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23 Sep 2022, 8:17 am

Radish wrote:
In my youth around 90 seconds, I loved to swim underwater too. Not a challenge I'm willing to try nowadays, similar challenges on TickTock have led to the deaths of a number of children, so probably best not to encourage folks to find out anyway.

Well hoping for a more mature audience.
I just meant holding it comfortably.
Not any kind of contest intended.
I take a deep breath and hold it for as long as it's comfortable to cure hiccups.



Mountain Goat
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23 Sep 2022, 10:41 am

Tried to hold my breath as a child but it went through my fingers.



temp1234
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23 Sep 2022, 12:30 pm

I just tried. I tried very hard and it made me imagine what it would be like to drown/be suffocated to death. My conclusion is that I'd rather die by euthanasia than suffocation. I think death should be made as painless as possible. Those governments that don't allow euthanasia are very inhumane.



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23 Sep 2022, 2:32 pm

It depends on a lot of factors, but especially pertanent are what I am doing at the time and whether I am actually prepared to hold my breath.



babybird
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23 Sep 2022, 2:34 pm

Is there a prize?


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Sahn
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23 Sep 2022, 2:48 pm

I used to time myself while waiting for the train to college and got it up to a long, long time. Can't remember how long exactly, but I think around 2 and a half minutes. I stopped doing it at that point. I was forgetting to breath as I fell asleep at night and I'd sit up with a gasp and in shock as my oxygen was running out :lol:



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23 Sep 2022, 2:57 pm

temp1234 wrote:
I just tried. I tried very hard and it made me imagine what it would be like to drown/be suffocated to death. My conclusion is that I'd rather die by euthanasia than suffocation. I think death should be made as painless as possible. Those governments that don't allow euthanasia are very inhumane.


I can confirm that not being able to breathe when you need to is one of the worst feelings, not just from the burning feeling, but from the panic that ensues. Even in a training environment and when you are expecting to run out of air in a moment, being caught short and sucking face piece is extremely unpleasant to put it mildly. Being in water, especially as a child and having difficulty getting air is still far worse though. I think that ranks about on par with Being strangled (also as a child).



DanielW
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23 Sep 2022, 3:10 pm

My average is 90 seconds. (just sitting comfortably at rest). I have asthma too, but it is well-controlled for the large part. I can hold it a bit longer if I am underwater. I can pretend to breathe (taking water into my mouth, but not swallowing it) That seems to relieve the urge to breathe a bit longer.



goldfish21
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23 Sep 2022, 7:42 pm

I don't believe it.


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1986
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23 Sep 2022, 9:10 pm

4 minutes, 9 seconds as a teenager.
I'm in my late 30s now and did 2 min 30 seconds right now rather comfortably.

Tip: breathe in and out deeply a few times in advance, to add extra oxygen to your blood. Then, breathe out as deeply as you can to get rid of the "old air" at the bottom of your lungs, before you start.

When I'm stressed I often forget to breathe, much like many autistics forget to drink, so I hold my breath without thinking about it. Perhaps that's why I've built up the ability over time without practice.



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23 Sep 2022, 9:52 pm

A minute and half.
So at least 90 seconds, comfortably.

If I go all out, it can extend a minute more.


My "practice" isn't an entirely voluntary practice. :(
My sinuses are often clogged or swollen, and breathing through the mouth is also just as annoying.


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CockneyRebel
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23 Sep 2022, 10:00 pm

What will the prize be. Are the prizes matched to each member?


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Matrix Glitch
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26 Sep 2022, 12:01 pm

No contest. No prize.

I imagine lung capacity plays big factor. I have feeling my lung size capacity is on the smaller side.

"Individuals can increase their lung capacity by practicing holding their breath for longer periods. In addition to the recreational or professional benefits of an increased lung capacity, a person may experience additional health benefits from breath-holding."

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articl ... 12#summary

Looks like I've discovered a new hobby.