Breath control: Difference between revisions

Added information about posturing
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This table demonstrates how much gas remains in the lungs and how long that gas can supply enough oxygen to the body for a number of different circumstances for an average adult. Note that while the average volumes of gas vary greatly between individuals based upon their [[wikipedia:Lean_body_mass|lean body weight]], there is a reciprocal change in the rate of oxygen consumption meaning that the calculated times until desaturation occurs remain roughly the same.
This table demonstrates how much gas remains in the lungs and how long that gas can supply enough oxygen to the body for a number of different circumstances for an average adult. Note that while the average volumes of gas vary greatly between individuals based upon their [[wikipedia:Lean_body_mass|lean body weight]], there is a reciprocal change in the rate of oxygen consumption meaning that the calculated times until desaturation occurs remain roughly the same.
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: 0px;"
|+Amount of gas stored in the lungs<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_volumes</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_equivalent_of_task</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_body_weight</ref>
|+Amount of gas stored in the lungs<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_volumes</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_equivalent_of_task</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_body_weight</ref>
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* '''Metabolic rate'''
* '''Rate of oxygen consumption'''
| colspan="3" |<center>280 milliliters per minute</center>
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;"|280 milliliters per minute
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|45 seconds
|45 seconds
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| colspan="4" |''During sexual activity''
| colspan="4" |''During vigorous sexual activity''
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|'''Metabolic rate'''
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* '''Rate of oxygen consumption'''
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;"|1,600 milliliters per minute
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|'''Time until oxygen is depleted'''
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* '''Time until oxygen is depleted'''
|15 seconds
|1 minute
|<10 seconds
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=== Hypoxia (Low oxygen) ===
=== Hypoxia (Low oxygen) ===
When oxygen is completely restricted to the brain (e.g. when both carotid arteries are occluded or all oxygen stored in the lungs is depleted):
Hypoxia is the term used to describe inadequate oxygen delivery to the body. When oxygen is completely depleted:


* Consciousness is lost within seconds
* Consciousness is lost within seconds
* Permanent brain damage occurs within minutes
* Permanent brain damage occurs within minutes
* Death is all but certain after 10 minutes
* Death is all but certain after 10 minutes
When only breathing is restricted, the amount of time until oxygen is depleted is largely determined by how much oxygen remains in the lungs and the rate at which the body is using oxygen (see table above). However, in certain forms of breath play, such as [[carotid compression]], oxygen is completely restricted from the brain immediately.
==== Loss of consciousness ====
[[File:Posturing.jpg|thumb|Examples of decorticate and decerebrate posturing.]]
When consciousness is lost due to hypoxia, the brain no longer communicates with the body normally and the body enters a reflexive state called '''posturing'''. Posturing results in the extreme tension of specific groups of muscles depending on which parts of the brain are denied oxygen. However, in almost all circumstances, the fingers are tightly closed into a fist. This has several '''<u>''extremely important''</u>''' implications:
* '''It is highly likely that a person will not let go of something they are holding when they lose consciousness'''
** Depending on releasing an object in order to restore normal airflow is NOT a safe risk-mitigation strategy
* '''To people unfamiliar with the appearance of posturing, it may not be apparent that loss of consciousness has occurred'''


== Risks<!-- Describe the risks of this kink. --> ==
== Risks<!-- Describe the risks of this kink. --> ==