Q&A for How to Hold Your Breath for Long Periods of Time

Yes, just make sure you're still paying attention to your body's limits so you don't pass out.

You should inhale through your nose and exhale out your mouth.

You should only hold your breath for as long as it feels comfortable. The longer you hold your breath, the more carbon dioxide builds up inside your body; this can result in feelings of discomfort, and might cause you to pass out. If you experience any discomfort while holding your breath, you should exhale.

Using the technique in this article, it helped me and I got a minute and thirty seconds with ease.

No. You will pass out, and begin inhaling again automatically when you're unconscious.

It depends on what your goal is and how often you practice. For some people it may take a couple weeks and others it may take years.

Definitely.

Your body will automatically start breathing again. If you are underwater you will drown. Start above water unless you have a partner.

It depends where you pass out. It is possible for you to pass out especially if you are just learning how to learn to hold it longer and that's why you want a partner with you. Never try under water, as you don't want to drown.

Depends. I've seen some people last for a minute without practice, but I've also seen swimmers and runners only last for about 20 seconds. I started with 36 seconds last year, but by doing these workouts every few days, I'm up to 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

However long it takes you to calm down and feel ready to try again. That might be anywhere from a minute to five minutes.

Yes, it's the best thing to do after "starving" your body of air, as it quickly provides oxygen to the lungs.

Ask your parents or a lifeguard for help practicing.

Think of a calm, relaxing, happy place, like a beach. Just don't get too carried away, as you don't want to pass out.

Take it slowly at first, and try to increase your time gradually, even if it's only by a second at first. Always make sure to have someone watch over you whilst you do this and have your inhaler nearby.

Anything that is not restricting or tight, whatever is comfortable for you.

It might. Relaxing music could help take your mind off of what you are doing.

This is something you should think about bringing up to your doctor, it might be a medical sign or just an odd habit that you unknowingly created.

Absolutely. It can be applied to musicians, athletes, swimmers and much more.

You can never inhale too much oxygen but inhaling too much carbon dioxide will cause you to pass out.

No. If you hold your breath after exhaling, then you won't be able to hold you breath for as long.

If you are a swimmer, you can stay underwater longer. If you play an instrument that you play with your mouth, you can play longer without having to take breaths in between notes.

You can practice alone or with friends, which will help you gain confidence to do it for longer periods of time.

By doing plenty of breathing exercises. There's an exercise called walking apnea that will help.

You just need to practice. Follow the steps carefully. You may not get better on your first try, but you will improve if you keep at it.

When you hold your breathe you start to get uncomfortable and it makes your head get hurt from lack of oxygen.

You can't survive if you pass out underwater unless someone rescues you from drowning.

Definitely ask your doctor about that. If in doubt, it's not worth the risk.

No, it is not possible to do that and for your own safety, you should not attempt to do so.

Yes, it should be fine to do it after but try not to do it before. The reasoning for this is that digesting food will require oxygen and food energy, thus resulting in a more limited breath-holding technique.