ABOUT THIS EPISODE
A short breath hold is often described as evidence of “low CO2 tolerance”.
From there, the claim is that breathing less will retain CO2, improve oxygen delivery and boost performance.
How much of that can we actually measure?
In this episode, I look at the evidence behind breath-hold tests, the BOLT score, hyperventilation syndrome, nasal breathing and the Bohr effect.
I explain why the time to your first urge to breathe is a useful observation, but cannot by itself reveal your resting CO2 level, chemoreceptor sensitivity or oxygen delivery to your muscles.
We also examine exercise research in which nasal breathing changed end-tidal gases, while the implications for oxygen uptake and performance remained uncertain.
If you teach breathing methods, use breath-hold tests or have been told you need to improve your CO2 tolerance, this episode will help you ask a more precise question: what changed, and how do we know?
Hosted by Martin McPhilimey, exercise physiologist and founder of the School of Breath Science.
🫁 Get Certified (BRIT / BSC): https://www.schoolofbreathscience.com/courses/🤝 Join the Free Community: http://https://community.schoolofbreathscience.com/getting-started📸 Follow on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/martinmcphilimey💬 1:1 Coaching Enquiries: http://www.martinmcphilimey.com-------------------------------This content is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute forindividualised medical or clinical advice.
