How long can you hold your breath?
Discussion
Back in my late teens when I was doing a fair chunk of swimming I could hold my breath for nearly 4mins.
15years later, I've started swimming again and curious as to how long people can hold their breath, and, if you can do it for a long time, what training you do to improve it.
In general I believe:
<30s is bad news
30s-2m is OK
~3m pretty good
~5m excellent
~8m approaching free diving territory
~15m and your knocking on the door of organ and brain damage.
Mine has fallen off a cliff in the last 15yrs and want to improve it.
So, how long can you hold yours?
Ambleton - 32yo -1m26s 2m34s - 14/09/22
Riley Blue - 72yo - 1m12s - 13/09/22
SpidieNut - 49yo - 2m - 13/09/22
ElStovey - ?? - 4m20s - 13/09/22
RogerIrrelevant - ?? - 1m30s - 13/09/22
Croyde - ?? -1m11s 2m30s - 14/09/22
TGCOFTD - ?? - 12m (possibly deceased)
Bill - 52yo - 3m02s - 13/09/22
Mikeiow - 55yo - 2m02s - 13/09/22
Hoofy - 50yo - 2m10s - 13/09/22
MrGman - ?? - 33s - 13/09/22
Dingg - 61yo - 1m41s - 14/09/22
sjabrown - ?? - 1m31 - 14/09/22
JayRidesBikes - 34yo - 51s - 14/09/22
Also, please don't pass out trying this, or attempt it whilst driving, operating heavy machinery, in water (in case you do pass out) or anything else dumb.
15years later, I've started swimming again and curious as to how long people can hold their breath, and, if you can do it for a long time, what training you do to improve it.
In general I believe:
<30s is bad news
30s-2m is OK
~3m pretty good
~5m excellent
~8m approaching free diving territory
~15m and your knocking on the door of organ and brain damage.
Mine has fallen off a cliff in the last 15yrs and want to improve it.
So, how long can you hold yours?
Ambleton - 32yo -
Riley Blue - 72yo - 1m12s - 13/09/22
SpidieNut - 49yo - 2m - 13/09/22
ElStovey - ?? - 4m20s - 13/09/22
RogerIrrelevant - ?? - 1m30s - 13/09/22
Croyde - ?? -
TGCOFTD - ?? - 12m (possibly deceased)
Bill - 52yo - 3m02s - 13/09/22
Mikeiow - 55yo - 2m02s - 13/09/22
Hoofy - 50yo - 2m10s - 13/09/22
MrGman - ?? - 33s - 13/09/22
Dingg - 61yo - 1m41s - 14/09/22
sjabrown - ?? - 1m31 - 14/09/22
JayRidesBikes - 34yo - 51s - 14/09/22
Also, please don't pass out trying this, or attempt it whilst driving, operating heavy machinery, in water (in case you do pass out) or anything else dumb.
Edited by Ambleton on Wednesday 14th September 22:00
Unless free diving, why would you want to improve your breath holding ? If swimming, surely you'd want to improve your technique so that you can breath when required ? I guess sprint swimming is like sprint 100m on the track, in that breathing during the race adds no value due to the shortness of the race ?
Steve Campbell said:
Unless free diving, why would you want to improve your breath holding ? If swimming, surely you'd want to improve your technique so that you can breath when required ? I guess sprint swimming is like sprint 100m on the track, in that breathing during the race adds no value due to the shortness of the race ?
Your right regarding swimming, breathing technique is very important. As for being able to hold your breath, there are all sorts of general benefits as well as specific benefits. Breath training is becoming a tool for many athletes as well as for people with specific health issues. Lots of interesting info online.Steve Campbell said:
Unless free diving, why would you want to improve your breath holding ? If swimming, surely you'd want to improve your technique so that you can breath when required ? I guess sprint swimming is like sprint 100m on the track, in that breathing adds no value due to the shortness of the race ?
Lots actually, it can help with sporting performance, and low impact breath holds can improve snoring, sleep apnea and asthma attacks, some studies have also suggested that longer timed breath holds can increase the bodies EPO level. I have been doing the Wim Hot method of breathing and can hold my breath for 3 minutes on the exhale, so getting rid of all the oxygen in the lungs be you start the timer, lung capacity has little to do with it.It's about control and relaxation and learning to breath properly, teaching your muscles to deal with oxygen and co² in a more efficient manner - google tells me this is called Hypoxic training, and is the same thing you do when training for high altitude activities.
For most people in a relatively sedentary lifestyle you get stagnant air in your lungs that can be there for quite a period. Being aware of breathing techniques in order to maximise your usable volume and expell as much volume as possible before taking a big deep breath is a good thing.
But being able to hold you're breath for extended periods of time may come in useful in fairly extreme scenarios (surfing, sea swimming, boating)
Don't get me wrong. I'm not aiming for a 10minute free dive, I'm not mental, but 3 to 4 minutes would be nice if I could hit that.
For most people in a relatively sedentary lifestyle you get stagnant air in your lungs that can be there for quite a period. Being aware of breathing techniques in order to maximise your usable volume and expell as much volume as possible before taking a big deep breath is a good thing.
But being able to hold you're breath for extended periods of time may come in useful in fairly extreme scenarios (surfing, sea swimming, boating)
Don't get me wrong. I'm not aiming for a 10minute free dive, I'm not mental, but 3 to 4 minutes would be nice if I could hit that.
Edited by Ambleton on Tuesday 13th September 12:55
El stovey said:
I didnt mention that in my OP because that's taken years and years of specialist training and preparation. Genetics will also have a major part to play in such an attempt. I'd boldly suggest that most fit and healthy people should be able to hit 4 minutes with some practice and basic training without going too extreme.
El stovey said:
Well that's me down a rabbit hole for the last half hour or so 
Deepest free dive is apparently 702 feet
https://centerforsurfresearch.org/deepest-free-div...
Guess it's simple training.
On holiday for 7 days I could only do a half length of a small typical holiday apartment pool whilst doing the crawl without taking a breath.
Just mucking about for half an hour every evening.
I'd feel pretty out of breath.
2 days later and I could do a length and not feel out of breath.
2 more days and I could do 1.5 lengths.
Pool was maybe 10m and I'm a pretty crap swimmer.
60 this week.
On holiday for 7 days I could only do a half length of a small typical holiday apartment pool whilst doing the crawl without taking a breath.
Just mucking about for half an hour every evening.
I'd feel pretty out of breath.
2 days later and I could do a length and not feel out of breath.
2 more days and I could do 1.5 lengths.
Pool was maybe 10m and I'm a pretty crap swimmer.
60 this week.
I'm fitter than most - I've previously rowed at elite level and have been fellrunning competitively for the last decade or so - but I've never been able to hold my breath for very long. I've just tried now and by 1m30s it felt like my diaphragm was going to smash through my rib cage. I don't think I'll bother again for a while.
Edited by Roger Irrelevant on Tuesday 13th September 14:30
Roger Irrelevant said:
I'm fitter than most - I've previously rowed at elite level and have been fellrunning competitively for the last decade or so - but I've never been able to hold my breathy for very long. I've just tried now and by 1m30s it felt like my diaphragm was going to smash through my rib cage. I don't think I'll bother again for a while.
Surely your body is conditioned to use alot of oxygen?Just managed 3'02"! Which is a surprise!! Mildly active, 52-y-o. I hyperventilated prior and have asthma so increased lung capacity is likely. I also went climbing in June and spent a few days at 2500-2800m, but have no idea if I have any carry over from then.
ETA plus a two week holiday in the Alps last month with a few days above 2000m.
Edited by Bill on Tuesday 13th September 14:28
Bill said:
Just managed 3'02"! Which is a surprise!! Mildly active, 52-y-o. I hyperventilated prior and have asthma so increased lung capacity is likely. I also went climbing in June and spent a few days at 2500-2800m, but have no idea if I have any carry over from then.
Then you’ll feel the need to breathe so try and resist it by gulping (keep mouth closed) then when you can’t do any more you’ll raise your head and if you’ve done really well , you might pass out so have your wife kids etc ready.
Plus they get to say “I told you so” for days/weeks/years afterwards.
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