Hold your Breath and let the Carbon Dioxide Spread its Protective Wings

“Over the oxygen supply to the body the carbon dioxide spread its protective wings.”

JOHAN FRIEDRICH MIESCHER

Breathing is an automatic process that we are not aware of. The problem is that most of the people are not conscious of how they breathe. They don’t breathe correctly, they over breathe.  In other words, they breathe more air than they need without knowing it. The solution for this over breathing issue is to make conscious changes in the breathing habits. The result, being able to breathe more efficiently,  strengthen both body and mind. Efficient breathing habits can contribute to more positive energy in everyday life.

One advantage of gaining conscious of the breathing is a better utilization of the Carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a by-product from the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids, in a process known as cellular respiration.  The majority of people think CO2 is just a wasting gas. On the contrary of being a wasting gas is a key element, which allows the release of oxygen from the red cells to be metabolized by the body. This is the BOHR effect ** (Discovered by Physiologist Christian 1855-1911).

Having an improved respiration, increases the amount of carbon dioxide inside the body, then more oxygen will be delivered to the muscles and organs, including the heart and brain, and thus heighten our physical capacity.  As Patrick McKeown explains in his book, The oxygen Advantage, breathing is determined by receptors in the brain that monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood, along with the acidity or pH level. When levels of carbon dioxide increase above a certain amount, these sensitive receptors stimulate breathing in order to get rid of the excess gas. In other words, the primary stimulus to breathe is to eliminate excess carbon dioxide from the body.

It’s important to train breathing exercises which generate the habit of conscious breathing, specially breath hold exercises because the body adapts to tolerate higher concentration of CO2 levels. This is the mechanism that allows the CO2 to spread its protective wings over the oxygen supply to the body.(as the quote at the beginning of this article). A higher tolerance to CO2 strengthens the protection granted by the CO2 to the body, since there will be a better oxygenation in all organs of the body.

Consequently the Improved Respiration virtuous loop is formed; breath hold training: great CO2 tolerance: better oxygenation (high VO2 MAX): peak performance in endurance resistance sports.   

Breathe to inspire…

Bibliography

• McKeown, Patrick. The Oxygen Advantage, the Simple, scientifically proven breathing techniques for a healthier, slimmer, faster and fitter you

**The Bohr effect is a physiological phenomenon first described in 1904 by the Danish physiologist Christian Bohr. Hemoglobin‘s oxygen binding affinity is inversely related both to acidity and to the concentration of carbon dioxide