How Long Can You Hold Your Breath? - Instant Egghead #6

Professional 'free divers' have no trouble holding their breath for minutes at a time. What stops us from doing the same? In this episode, Scientific American's Katherine Harmon--and Katherine Harmon--explore the limits of human physiology.

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[jameswray]

contact with cold water triggers bradycardia, its a diving reflex that slows the heart rate, thus slowing the consumption of oxygen.

[iinRez]

You fight the breaking point by exhaling small bursts of Co2 as you're holding your breath and that panic feeling goes away each time. Every summer I make it a point to river walk (carry a heavy rock across the bottom of a river), and I can go for more than a minute and not be out of breath when I emerge. Don't know if it helps but I only take 1/2 to 3/4 of a breath and it seems to be less stressful on the diaphragm.

[Maverickcreatedthis]

i held my breath the entire length of this video. so hard

[AnAppleDancingwild]

OMG I tried this again with a lot of effort and managed to hold my breath for 60 seconds!

[MadMarker]

I can hold my breath for around 2.5 minutes. I have a personal best of 2.784 . This was achieved with 10-15 minutes of breathing before attempt. I am an over weight 44 year old man who smokes and drinks.

[sethcagle]

4 minutes and 33 seconds underwater is my record

[DatBoiAderbeen]

i did 2 minutes with hyperventalating. i think i could have gone longer because as soon as i moved to check my timing and saw 1:40 i started to get that break point so i just fought it til 2..

[ilyaart]

Hey SA you need to do more research on freediving and breathe up techniques- there is no mystery behind holding your breath for 5-7 minutes. This video makes you look very unscientific.

[druidspoe]

i went the entire video holding my breath i can only hold my breath for 2:10 and nothing longer for some reason

[ballistichops]

I'm 12 and I have no experience with holding my breath for long periods of time but I held my breath for 3:47 minutes.

[onboardcomb]

I may have held my breath for the whole video…

[josephstegall]

I held my breath for 20 minutes in New York.The cab driver stunk worse than shit.

[ianlaframboi]

Last night i held my breath for 3:05 mins... and i broke the school record att 2:36

[sexydudeuk]

the longest i managed to hold my breath was for over 3 minutes. At the end however I was really breathing hard afterwards

[blackbeard]

without training i can hold my mine for 3 minutes i want 6 minutes

[thething]

started at 1min 20. 3 tries later and a few tips and i've got to about 2min

[KyleAnglin]

My best record is 3:32. I'm still working on it.

[ToxicTurtle]

I'm twelve and my best is two and a half mins, I didn't hyperventilate. I meditated for five or so mins before, just breathing deeply.

[CoryASMR]

i am 12 years old and i can hold my breath for 3 minutes and 9 seconds under water.
i have been practicing since i was 7

[gratiaetnatura]

My record's 3:45 after hyperventilation, but I was quite a bit younger then.