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A member asked:
If a lack of oxygen hurts and damages your heart muscle, then how bad is it to hold your breath?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Depends: In general a person can not hold their breath long enough to cause heart damage because1: a neurally mediated reflex triggered by the buildup of carbon dioxide is present and will override the breath hold and 2: the duration of time absent complete oxygen required to damage heart muscle is 15-30 minutes.
Answered 8/27/2013
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