Everyone has competed in a competition that involves pinching the nose and trying to hold one’s breath for the longest. I have never won such games. So I have looked at the victor’s purpling face in puzzlement and have always wondered how long it can be humanly possible to go without oxygen.
But this all depends on circumstances and location (Outside, 2013). According to the Daily Mail, humans are able to hold their breath nearly twice as longer underwater, due to the “diving reflex.” The diving reflex slows the body’s metabolism and heart rate conserve heat and oxygen in cold waters. (Therefore, world records are usually assessed underwater.The world record for breath holding is held by Tom Sietas, who held his breath underwater for 22 minutes and 22 seconds (Daily Mail, 2012). The state of holding one’s breath underwater is referred to as static apnea. Of course, breath holding also depends on physicality. Males are usually able to hold their breath longer than women as they tend to have a greater lung capacity.
Our bodies never cease to amaze me. But oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage, so you would never want to hold your breath for that long anyways!
