British actress Kate Winslet, 48, raised;
amazement after holding her breath underwater for 7 minutes and 15 seconds;
While filming one of the scenes of the movie “Avatar: The Way of Water”, which was shown in late 2022, she defeated the American star Tom Cruise, who held his breath underwater for 6 minutes, in one of the films in the Impossible Mission series. , in 2015.
Although holding your breath for such a long time, whether underwater or above water, is very difficult, even for many experienced people;
Winslet said she had a behind-the-scenes video recording of the experiment, and explained that she wanted to break her "cinematic" record, which is 6 minutes and 14 seconds;
So she trained for a few weeks to control the breathing of oxygen inside her body, and was surprised that she “reached this new number, and she was still alive,” according to Variety.
This challenge prompts us to search for what is related to “holding our breath” and provide scientific answers to the questions raised about it, as a sports technique with physiological benefits that are not without risks.
The secret is in the ability of some to hold their breath for the longest period under water
The highest world record, in voluntary holding of breath underwater, was recorded by Croatian diver Budimir Šupat, 56 years old;
On March 27, 2021, with a time of approximately 25 minutes.
Dr. Anthony Payne, Associate Professor at the College of Human Mobility, University of Windsor, Canada, provided a scientific explanation for this in his article on “The Conversation” website, after he and his team conducted extensive physiological research on professional divers, to find out how they can hold their breath. For a long time;
And they found that there was one very important and certain element in the equation: oxygen.
The percentage of oxygen that we breathe from the atmosphere is usually 21%, and in order for Shubat to succeed in holding his breath for this amazing period, he needed to breathe in advance of 100% oxygen.
Which is what Kate Winslet rehearsed before filming the movie scene.
Since 1959, research on 7 untrained volunteers has shown that breathing 100% oxygen before holding their breath;
It led to stays from 6 to 14 minutes, making Winslet holding her breath underwater for more than 7 minutes "definitely possible," says Payne.
What happens when you hold your breath?
Dr. Kiran Rajneesh, director of the Department of Neuropathic Pain at Ohio State University, tells us that our brains have a trillion neurons called chemoreceptors.
Responsible for "monitoring the rate and depth of respiration, to maintain the level of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood; and rapid intervention to prevent disasters, when any abnormality occurs";
This is why our bodies automatically resist the urge to hold our breath.
In the first 30 seconds of holding our breath, we may feel comfortable closing our eyes and tuning in to the world around us;
Before the carbon dioxide rises in the blood, against the decrease in oxygen;
Holding the breath becomes difficult and dangerous because of the lack of exhalation.
The chemoreceptors intervene "to force us to breathe, by contracting the diaphragm involuntarily. This is the point at which an untrained breath-hold practitioner, unsupported by prior oxygen inhalation, may give up and start breathing again, after a maximum of 3 minutes," according to Dr. payne;
Who confirms that "breathing oxygen before holding the breath is a trick to reduce carbon dioxide in the blood, and to extend the duration to 20 minutes."
Our bodies automatically resist the urge to hold our breath (Shutterstock)
Practical steps to practice holding your breath
Healthline provided a detailed guide to training on how to hold your breath safely, including:
do abdominal breathing exercises
, to increase the capacity of the lungs;
By taking a deep and full breath, holding it in the abdomen for 20 to 60 seconds, before exhaling, and resting by normal breathing for 90 seconds.
Repeat the exercise,
gradually reducing rest periods and normal breathing, by 15 seconds each time.
oxygen storage,
by holding your breath for one minute;
Then rest and breathe normally for two minutes, then increase the duration of holding your breath by 15 seconds between each rest period and the next.
Gradually increase the duration of holding your breath by 15 seconds
, but without haste, and provided you feel safe and comfortable.
staying still,
slowing the heartbeat while holding your breath;
To maintain the level of oxygen in the blood.
Pause for a few hours
between each exercise and the next.
Holding the breath helps improve breathing and support lung function in general (Shutterstock)
Benefits of holding your breath
Although there is no direct and immediate daily benefit to holding the breath, other than aiding meditation and improving mood,
“But it is a practice that is not without benefits,” according to Healthline.
In addition to improving breathing, and supporting lung function in general;
Breath-holding training may help "resist bacterial infections and increase lifespan by maintaining the health of stem cells, as well as saving people in situations such as falling from a boat, for example."
When is life threatening?
Holding your breath for a long time may have some side effects. Dr. Rajneesh says, “For the average person, holding their breath for a minute or two is safe.”
It is the period during which our bodies can maintain the functioning of organs and the continuation of vital functions.
But overdoing it for a long time than necessary, "may lead to a reduction in the flow of oxygen in the brain, and then fainting spells and brain damage, and an imbalance in the body system that affects the work of the heart, and may also damage the kidneys and liver."
In the case of holding the breath underwater, water is likely to enter the lungs and threaten life, so Rajneesh advises "inexperienced people - especially children who are fascinated by the idea of holding their breath - not to practice this technique, before taking adequate precautions."