Do you hold your breath like I do?
August 20, 2011 11:32 PM Subscribe
Do you, like me, ever hold your breath for no real reason, just when you are lying around?
I have this habit that I've never really thought of until my fiancee noticed--sometimes I will just take a deep breath and hold it for a while (a little less than a minute?). It's not for any reason, it's just something that feels kind of relaxing, I haven't ever thought it was abnormal enough to analyze it. Am I truly weird, or do other people do this as well?
I have this habit that I've never really thought of until my fiancee noticed--sometimes I will just take a deep breath and hold it for a while (a little less than a minute?). It's not for any reason, it's just something that feels kind of relaxing, I haven't ever thought it was abnormal enough to analyze it. Am I truly weird, or do other people do this as well?
Never did it for no reason or just while I was relaxing. But I would not characterize you as "truly weird" for this habit.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:35 PM on August 20, 2011
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:35 PM on August 20, 2011
Best answer: Yeah. Taking a breath and holding it slows down my heart rate and relaxes me. I think I've read before that this is a normal physiological response.
posted by empyrean at 11:47 PM on August 20, 2011
posted by empyrean at 11:47 PM on August 20, 2011
I find it relaxing too. I notice myself doing it when I'm specifically trying to relax or to calm my breathing.
posted by Lady Li at 12:28 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by Lady Li at 12:28 AM on August 21, 2011
hmm, when I just tried doing it I had to stop after 10 seconds since it was starting to stress me out. Rather the opposite of relaxing.
Sounds like you aren't weird since several others said they do it too, but there are definitely us out there that probably won't be doing that very often.
posted by johnstein at 12:54 AM on August 21, 2011
Sounds like you aren't weird since several others said they do it too, but there are definitely us out there that probably won't be doing that very often.
posted by johnstein at 12:54 AM on August 21, 2011
Yeah, I do this too. I unconsciously hold my breath 30-45 seconds at a time. Other people have noticed and pointed it out to me.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 1:57 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by a humble nudibranch at 1:57 AM on August 21, 2011
Yup, I do this too. But I ,on the other hand, am a bit weird.
posted by stillnocturnal at 2:17 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by stillnocturnal at 2:17 AM on August 21, 2011
I do occasionally interrupt my breathing, but rather than holding my breath, I'm more likely to exhale and then delay taking the next breath.
posted by Bruce H. at 2:40 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by Bruce H. at 2:40 AM on August 21, 2011
From personal experience, I suspect this is similar to the effect of pursed-lip breathing techniques used by people with COPD.
I have mild asthma which causes shortness of breath, and do this sometimes. When you take a deep breath and hold it, the pressure opens your airway more, and the next breath you take will likely feel extra satisfying.
Also, there are breathing exercises for relaxation that feature breath-holding as part of the exercise. One that I recall asks you to breath deeply, hold the breath for a certain count, and then exhale slowly until your lungs are empty.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:55 AM on August 21, 2011
I have mild asthma which causes shortness of breath, and do this sometimes. When you take a deep breath and hold it, the pressure opens your airway more, and the next breath you take will likely feel extra satisfying.
Also, there are breathing exercises for relaxation that feature breath-holding as part of the exercise. One that I recall asks you to breath deeply, hold the breath for a certain count, and then exhale slowly until your lungs are empty.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:55 AM on August 21, 2011
I hold my breath a lot but I only realize it when I have to exhale. I feel like it probably has something to do with stress.
posted by smirkyfodder at 6:44 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by smirkyfodder at 6:44 AM on August 21, 2011
Best answer: This builds up carbon dioxide in your lungs and blood which can indeed have a relaxing effect. It can happen when your carbon dioxide level is too low (from breathing too fast or deep) and your body wants to bring it back up again. (CO2 isn't just waste gas. It's used to regulate a bunch of stuff.)
You can make this go away (if you want to) by doing Buteyko breathing (see links in previous answers of mine) which makes your breathing usually slower (but sometimes faster) and shallower. Your body gets used to higher CO2 levels and better at not letting them get too low. Then your body will eventually stop doing this.
But it is fun.
IANAD.
posted by zeek321 at 6:54 AM on August 21, 2011
You can make this go away (if you want to) by doing Buteyko breathing (see links in previous answers of mine) which makes your breathing usually slower (but sometimes faster) and shallower. Your body gets used to higher CO2 levels and better at not letting them get too low. Then your body will eventually stop doing this.
But it is fun.
IANAD.
posted by zeek321 at 6:54 AM on August 21, 2011
Best answer: (Actually first it relaxes you, then it eventually causes adrenaline release. But it won't hurt you. Again, IANAD.)
posted by zeek321 at 6:57 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by zeek321 at 6:57 AM on August 21, 2011
Best answer: I do this. It freaks out my girlfriend. I spent the night in the hospital about a year ago and set off an alarm a couple times doing this.
posted by gally99 at 9:38 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by gally99 at 9:38 AM on August 21, 2011
I do this ALL THE TIME, but particularly when I write or draw. Totally unconsciously. There's sort of a telltale sound when I let it out. I remember once in a (very silent) figure drawing class, this guy turned to stare at me. "Um, are you okay? It sounds like you're in pain." He was a jerk, but I've had other people point it out to me, and I often catch myself doing it. Hasn't killed me yet.
posted by changeling at 9:53 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by changeling at 9:53 AM on August 21, 2011
I never ever do this. Ever. But I have wretched allegy/sinus issues and breathe less than you do. A lot less than you do. Like a 1/3 of a scuba tank to your one less than you do - If you are a normal person.
Swimming underwater - a situation where you are simply not getting new air in your body - doesn't kill me so I don't see how holding your breath from time to time could be bad for you.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 1:04 PM on August 21, 2011
Swimming underwater - a situation where you are simply not getting new air in your body - doesn't kill me so I don't see how holding your breath from time to time could be bad for you.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 1:04 PM on August 21, 2011
I hold my breath on purpose for fun. When I was young, my cousins and I had all sorts of "traditions"/games which involved breath-holding.
I also do this unconsciously (occasionally) when very physically close to another person (so as not to offend them?!). When I realize it, I have to consciously start breathing normally again.
posted by beerbajay at 2:01 PM on August 21, 2011
I also do this unconsciously (occasionally) when very physically close to another person (so as not to offend them?!). When I realize it, I have to consciously start breathing normally again.
posted by beerbajay at 2:01 PM on August 21, 2011
Best answer: You could have some level of alkalosis:
Compensatory mechanism for metabolic alkalosis involve slowed breathing by the lungs to increase serum carbon dioxide, a condition leaning toward respiratory acidosis. As respiratory acidosis often accompanies the compensation for metabolic alkalosis, and vice versa, a delicate balance is created between these two conditions.
As I said before in an answer to a somewhat similar question, I think there is reason to believe this happens more often to redheads.
posted by jamjam at 3:07 PM on August 21, 2011
Compensatory mechanism for metabolic alkalosis involve slowed breathing by the lungs to increase serum carbon dioxide, a condition leaning toward respiratory acidosis. As respiratory acidosis often accompanies the compensation for metabolic alkalosis, and vice versa, a delicate balance is created between these two conditions.
As I said before in an answer to a somewhat similar question, I think there is reason to believe this happens more often to redheads.
posted by jamjam at 3:07 PM on August 21, 2011
I do occasionally interrupt my breathing, but rather than holding my breath, I'm more likely to exhale and then delay taking the next breath.
posted by Bruce H. at 11:40 AM on August 21
This.
The peace and quiet of not breathing is very agreeable. I just tried to do it on purpose, but that feels all wrong.
posted by lioness at 5:18 PM on August 21, 2011
posted by Bruce H. at 11:40 AM on August 21
This.
The peace and quiet of not breathing is very agreeable. I just tried to do it on purpose, but that feels all wrong.
posted by lioness at 5:18 PM on August 21, 2011
I also do this.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:24 PM on August 21, 2011
posted by SisterHavana at 8:24 PM on August 21, 2011
I do it. It's relaxing. But I breathe _out_ and just sit there peacefully before breathing in again.
posted by Listener at 10:53 PM on August 21, 2011
posted by Listener at 10:53 PM on August 21, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, my fiancee is reassured that I'm not deranged or disturbed now. And I'm glad to know that so many people can resonate with my little habit.
PS: I have a theory that sometimes I hold my breath because I'm in a position that makes it difficult to expand my abdomen, and holding my breath is a little rest from the work of the diaphragm muscles. I wonder if people with a certain posture are more likely to do this.
PPS: I also do the exhale-first breath-holding from time to time and find that very agreeable as well.
posted by brenton at 10:48 AM on August 22, 2011
PS: I have a theory that sometimes I hold my breath because I'm in a position that makes it difficult to expand my abdomen, and holding my breath is a little rest from the work of the diaphragm muscles. I wonder if people with a certain posture are more likely to do this.
PPS: I also do the exhale-first breath-holding from time to time and find that very agreeable as well.
posted by brenton at 10:48 AM on August 22, 2011
Response by poster: PPPS: Whoops, jamjam, I missed your alkalosis comment. That is so fascinating! This would make a great Sherlock Holmes or House, MD story: the victim could not see the criminal but recalls them holding their breath... ah ha! it must be the redhead out of the lineup!
posted by brenton at 10:59 AM on August 22, 2011
posted by brenton at 10:59 AM on August 22, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Errant at 11:35 PM on August 20, 2011