Naples, Florida
A 27-year-old male asked:
Can a healthy person choose to just stop breathing?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Dan Fisheranswered
Internal Medicine 28 years experience
For a while.: But it doesn't last long. The drive to breath is strong. Even if you were able to choke yourself the brain would reset after you lost consciousness and released your grip.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 45 years experience
Yes but...: That person will be forced to breathe by his brainstem in a few minutes. Tales of magicians and martial artists dying of breath-holding are entertainment, not fact.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
Naples, Florida
A 28-year-old male asked:
Is breathing invol or vol? Can person just stop breathing for no reason
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Robert Isaacsanswered
40 years experience
Both: Breathing is partly voluntary, mostly involuntary. You can temporarily hold your breath or breathe more deeply and rapidly as a conscious decision, but mostly breathing is carried on without you thinking about it. And no, someone cannot stop breathing for no reason. There will always be a reason.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Is there anything that can make someone.Just stop breathing although they are perfectly healthy?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Kirankumar Viramgamaanswered
Sleep Medicine 32 years experience
Yes apnea can: If someone is stop breathing anytime , then it is called apnea. Commonly called sleep apnea when it happens while sleeping. Noramlly apnea is less then 5 times/hour at night in healthy one and no other problems. If one has medical condition like hypertension, daytime sleepiness, fatigue etc and has apnea then one may have sleep apnea. Normal apnea in tirred healthy individual can happen.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 12, 2018
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