CO2 buildup? you kidding?

[punisher]

ok...dumb me needs to know how its possible to increase the co2 in your body by simply holding you breath underwater?

 

[Greeny]

I'm pretty sure its to do with the fact that each and every single cell in your body must respire to stay alive, it does this by taking oxygen from the blood which you obviously get from breathing in air. CO2 is given off as a waste product and enters the bloodsteam where it must travel to the lungs to be exhaled... so thus by holding your breath you're not releasing any of the CO2 from your body and so it builds up as the cell respiration carries on happening whether you're breathing or not..

I'm reasonably sure thats how it works.. hope it helps

 

[BlueDevil]

CO2 is constantly being produced in your body. Some of it is removed from your body via the lungs every time you breath out. If you are holding your breath then you are not exhaling CO2 and it will therefore build up in your system.

Anything that makes flushing the CO2 out of your lungs less efficient can cause it build up. eg skip breathing, poor regulator performance, deep diving where the air becomes much thicker etc

 

[punisher]

i can see the damage possible if doing skip breathing under some circumstances....so it does make sense...also, its the buildup of co2 on the blood that the brain uses to trigger my lungs to exhale and inhale...thanks

 

[Greeny]

i can see the damage possible if doing skip breathing under some circumstances....so it does make sense...also, its the buildup of co2 on the blood that the brain uses to trigger my lungs to exhale and inhale...thanks

I wouldnt say the brain uses the amount of CO2 to trigger exhaling and inhaling, i would say breathing is just an automatic bodily function, its purpose to inhale oxygen, and exhale CO2, I dont claim to be an expert but i dont think the brain actually measures the amount of each to judge when its time to inhale/exhale its just an automatic function.

 

[cyklon_300]

I wouldnt say the brain uses the amount of CO2 to trigger exhaling and inhaling, i would say breathing is just an automatic bodily function, its purpose to inhale oxygen, and exhale CO2, I dont claim to be an expert but i dont think the brain actually measures the amount of each to judge when its time to inhale/exhale its just an automatic function.

http://www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/respiratory.html

States that CO2 and blood acidity are the prinicpal stimuli for the breathing response.

 

[Warren_L]

I wouldnt say the brain uses the amount of CO2 to trigger exhaling and inhaling, i would say breathing is just an automatic bodily function, its purpose to inhale oxygen, and exhale CO2, I dont claim to be an expert but i dont think the brain actually measures the amount of each to judge when its time to inhale/exhale its just an automatic function.

CO2 blood levels trigger the breathing reflex - this is why freedivers hyperventilate before diving to drop CO2 levels.

 

[AndyNZ]

CO2 blood levels trigger the breathing reflex

True.... for a given value of "truth"....

The acidity of the blood is a trigger, which is affected by CO2 levels (CO2 is transported as Carbonic Acid in the blood) and also lactic acid, which is produced when muscles are working anerobically, i.e. there is an O2 deficit.

Some details here:

http://www.endofsuffering.com/physiology.html


Even then, this is also only true for a given value of truth!

 

[rawls]

CO2 builds up whether you are holding your breath under or above water. CO2 build up does make the brain trigger the breathing reflex. That's why you cannot kill yourself by holding your breath. The brain says...oh no you don't...try another approach. The bigger problem with breath holding is not CO2 build-up....

 

[Greg D.]

ok...dumb me needs to know how its possible to increase the co2 in your body by simply holding you breath underwater?

You better be careful stiring the pot with comments like holding your breath underwater can lead to threads like this...

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=118508