A member asked:

How long can you stop breathing before you become unconscious?

6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Michael Mascia answered

Specializes in Critical Care

A few minutes: Actually, it depends upon many factors. Breath holding is practiced by some who want to set records, but they train, hyperventilate & fill the lungs with 100% oxygen. Even so, oxygen deprivation & carbon dioxide elevations may cause damage or death, so it is not a good idea. For most, maximum voluntary breath holding does not exceed 1 or 2 minutes, or loss of consciousness & death may occur. Mfm.

Answered 12/28/2018

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5 minutes average: Usually 5 minutes is enough to cause carbon di oxide the gas we breathe out from lungs to build in our blood and the brain fluid to cause us to be uncomscious. The 5 minutes breath holding raises the carbon di oxide and drops the pH to make us unconscious on an average and may kill us if we are not resusicated, children may take up to 9 minutes on average.

Answered 3/22/2017

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