Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
Can you get serious brain damage if you hold your breath for a long time?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
No: If you hold your breath, your blood oxygen levels go down & co2 levels go up. Then you pass out, & the brain starts you breathing on automatic pilot, assuming you are healthy and not inebriated. Then levels return to normal and you wake up.
Answered 3/21/2013
5.7k views
Thank
Related Questions
A member asked:
I experience shortness of breath and low brain function at times of tension. Is this normal on occasions?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Can holding your breath for extended periods of time cause a brain aneurysm?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
When you hold your breath, are you killing brain cells?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
I used to hold my breath while lifting weights for 45 seconds per set. I got headaches after the gym. Could this cause brain damage? Clear MRI scan
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Severe sleep apnea from brain forgetting to send signal to breath and enlarged tonsil and adenoid/over weight/ 1 year old any suggestions or options?
6 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
People also searched for:
I used to hold my breath while lifting weights for around 1 minute at a time. Could this cause hypoxia brain damage?
Can "breath holding" contests cause damage to the brain if contestants hold their breath for 1-2 minutes? Do brain cells begin to die in this time?
What happens if you hold your breath for too long? I know you'll eventually faint but is there any serious dangers like brain damage or death?
In my second trimester I was around certain smells or road work I would hold my breath. The longest I held it was for a minute. Could that have cause harm to my baby and maybe cause brain damage to her? Sometimes I held it multiple times for 40 sec?
Can you voluntarily hold your breath long enough to cause brain damage?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HIPAASecure
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHOAccredited
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
