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
Basically that clock doesn’t start ticking as soon as you hold your breath.
You have both oxygen in your lungs and oxygen in your blood which will get used.
That 4-6 minute time frame only comes into play after the oxygen in the blood and the lungs has been depleted.
Latest Answers