And what about people like David Blaine or Tom Sietas? Sietas held his breath underwater for over 22 minutes (world record). I know they train for it like months and even years, but doesn’t holding your breath = no oxygen to brain?
Permanent brain damage apparently occurs just after 4 minutes of lack of oxygen to the brain, so why are freedivers left generally unscathed after 8 or 10 minutes without air?
In: Biology
When you read that people cannot survive more than 4-6 minutes without oxygen, it means just that, zero oxygen in the body for that amount of time. It is also referring to normal situations. You can increase the oxygen level in your body by deep breathing. You can slow the exiting of oxygen from your body by slowing breathing and being very still. With practice you can get up to the numbers you mention. Also, some bodies are better and more suited to doing this feat. There are differences between people who are born and live in higher altitudes to those from lower altitudes.
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