Q&A for How to Hold Your Breath Underwater

Sit along the edge of the pool wall, get prepared, and then see how far you can swim without taking a breath. Have a friend stand at your stopping point (or mark it yourself); then, catch your breath, start again, and try to swim even further.

Exhale. If water gets in your nose while you do a back flip or something similar, keep breathing out. It will help to keep the water out of your nostrils. You can also wear a nose clip if you cannot cope with the water going in.

Yes. Just make sure you are exhaling when you go upside-down. If you don't hold your nose or exhale, you will get water up your nose when you go upside-down.

Yes, it's possible to hold your breath for a long time. It takes a lot of training, though. You need to be careful, because holding your breath underwater carries a risk of drowning. The longer you try to stay underwater, the more likely you are to need a breath when you're surrounded by water.

It's a distraction. It's very interesting, however, because moving around requires using muscles and therefore uses up the oxygen you have stored faster. But if that is what you are comfortable with, continue doing it if you think it helps.

We cannot inhale water because, unlike fish, we do not have gills. The gills are able to take in the dissolved oxygen from the water while expelling the water from the gill openings. Human lungs are not made to take in water, and a person will suffocate or choke if they try to inhale it.

The force of you moving against the water, especially when you jump in or make a quick motion, can push water up into your nose. Or you may accidentally breathe it in sometimes.

Try to get to the top and on your back. If you can't, try to make it noticeable that you're in need of help by flailing around in the water. FYI: It's best to practice holding your breath in water shallow enough for you to stand in.

It means to breathe out. It's very important when you're underwater because if you're inhaling (breathing in) water, you're in danger of drowning.

Just use however much time you have to prepare yourself.

Sit or stand out of water first and practice breathing in and out with your diaphragm.

You can practice holding your breath anywhere. Whether it's in the shower doesn't really make a difference.

With proper training, yes. The world record is 22 minutes, but do not push yourself.

First, be careful and make sure that there is an adult around in case of an emergency. It is hard to stay under water, so gradually increase the time you stay under water by a few seconds at a time. If you feel dizzy, don't try to push through and force yourself to stay under the water.

For the same reason your body doesn't like water going down your windpipe. You nose connects to your lungs, and if you get water in your lungs, you can't breathe and it can cause you to drown. The reactions people get when water gets into their nose is a primitive instinct to make sure nothing gets into your respiratory system.

Make a fist and thrust it into your abdomen softly, but with firm pressure.

Blow bubble out of your nose - it really helps, especially when going underwater.

Don't puff out your cheeks. This is a sure fire way for people to see that you're holding your breath.

Start in shallow water where you can stand. Take some lessons with someone who is responsible enough not to let you drown.

Well, start somewhere shallow, so if you panic, you can just lift your head up.

Put your hands by your side or shake them before you start. While you're floating, distract yourself by thinking of other things. The more you focus on what your arms are doing, the less you'll be able relax.

If you mean inhaling as well as exhaling, then no. Your lungs would fill up with water, which usually results in drowning.

It is possible that the breathing training is already helping, you simply haven't yet noticed the difference. Another way to look at it is: keep up the breathing training until it helps. It's different for everyone, so there's no exact answer.

As humans do not have gills, there is no way to separate oxygen from water, and you will drown quicker.

Some people can keep water out of their noses by humming. You could also breathe out heavily through your nose, but that may shorten how long you can hold your breath. Try plugging your nose if you aren't swimming. If you are swimming, try to move your head quickly to an upright position.

It may take a while, but hold your breath every day and try to hold it longer each day.

It's really easy after you learn how to keep your stomach up. You may need to move your legs a little bit so they stay up instead of weighing you down.

Inhale means to breathe in. Of course, you don't want to breathe in water, so exhale. This means to breathe out.