Asthma vs lung capacity

Oliver Olson · Nov 19, 2013

As a child I had frequent asthma attacks, some resulted in a quick trip to the emergency room. But as I grew older they became less frequent. But even as a kid I was good at holding my breath. where most kids gave up after 30 to 45 seconds I would easily hold my breath for 1.5 even 2 minutes.
I'm 48 now. A couple years back I experienced some tightness in the lungs and the doctor had X-rays taken to rule out anything other than a mild attack. The X-ray tech. made some passing comments about having trouble fitting my entire lung mass into the frame and said my lungs were huge for my size. I asked if it was common and she said she'd only seen it once before.
I regret to admit that my lungs have taken a beating over the last 20 years. Working in the building industry has exposed them to just about everything bad, saw dust, paint and glue fumes etc.
Now here I am. Of all things I want to be a free diver and hold my breath.
So about 2 months ago when it occurred to me that this was something I was really going to do, I was watching a You tube video showing proper breathe hold technique. Without much effort (or training) I was able to do a dry static hold for 4.5 min. and felt relaxed doing it.
Do any of you out there have any experience with this? Are there any other free divers with asthma?

growingupninja · Nov 19, 2013

I don't have asthma, but I think asthmatics may be more accustomed to a lower baseline O2 level, so breath-hold may come easier. I did some informal tests once on a guy who had pretty severe asthma but was really into freediving. That seemed to be his story--he had a history of samba with very little warning, and didn't really get contractions. He had to breathe-up for a very long time to raise his O2 to 98%, even though at the start of the test his breathing was already slightly elevated above normal. Most divers start their hold with their O2 and 98% to 99% and reach that level after a few deep breaths if they aren't already there, and they may start to struggle a bit once they're in the mid or low nineties. But if your body is accustomed to functioning at the low nineties (severe asthma), your warning signs and struggle stage would probably not start until O2 was lower. If you test yourself with a pulse oxy meter, please post results. It would be interesting.

Oliver Olson · Nov 20, 2013

growingupninja said:
I don't have asthma, but I think asthmatics may be more accustomed to a lower baseline O2 level, so breath-hold may come easier. I did some informal tests once on a guy who had pretty severe asthma but was really into freediving. That seemed to be his story--he had a history of samba with very little warning, and didn't really get contractions. He had to breathe-up for a very long time to raise his O2 to 98%, even though at the start of the test his breathing was already slightly elevated above normal. Most divers start their hold with their O2 and 98% to 99% and reach that level after a few deep breaths if they aren't already there, and they may start to struggle a bit once they're in the mid or low nineties. But if your body is accustomed to functioning at the low nineties (severe asthma), your warning signs and struggle stage would probably not start until O2 was lower. If you test yourself with a pulse oxy meter, please post results. It would be interesting.

That is absolutely fascinating. I knew there had to be more to it.
Sitting in my chair or lying down, without doing a breath up, if I begin taking in air first from the diaphragm then finish with upper chest, in the first 10 seconds I feel a twinge of hyperventilation. It passes almost immediately and the next 4.5 min. are more relaxing than any meditation has ever been.

Oliver Olson · Nov 20, 2013

Oliver Olson said:
That is absolutely fascinating. I knew there had to be more to it.
Sitting in my chair or lying down, without doing a breath up, if I begin taking in air first from the diaphragm then finish with upper chest, in the first 10 seconds I feel a twinge of hyperventilation. It passes almost immediately and the next 4.5 min. are more relaxing than any meditation has ever been.

How can I test myself with this Pulse oxy meter you speak of ?

sanso · Nov 20, 2013

Oliver Olson said:
How can I test myself with this Pulse oxy meter you speak of ?

That's easy.
Get one on ebay and stick it on your finger.
The simple ones commonly are around 30€ and come from Hong Kong, iirc.
I'd recommend one that not only shows the numbers, but also a simple graph.

Oliver Olson · Nov 20, 2013

sanso said:
That's easy.
Get one on ebay and stick it on your finger.
The simple ones commonly are around 30€ and come from Hong Kong, iirc.
I'd recommend one that not only shows the numbers, but also a simple graph.

I will check it out, thank you.
Great feed back everybody....

Bill · Nov 20, 2013

Very interesting Lance. I didn't know that it was out-of-limits until this year. It was normal for the day after diving for the O2 readings to be in the mid 80's. The doctor didn't like that and fixed it but seven minute statics were easy.

Kars · Nov 20, 2013

I believe Stig Severinsen had Astma too. - just look him up if you do not know him

hteas · Nov 21, 2013

Peppin was another child asthmatic

Gab · Nov 21, 2013

I have asthma, it would be interesting to see if it "helps". I admit I never time myself, I just go under and enjoy my time looking for fish .

Oliver Olson · Nov 22, 2013

I wonder... after attending our first free dive classes, coming up in March, with proper training, how much better than 4.5 minutes, will my breath hold ability be. This is very exciting for me at age 48. If my son at 11 years old, continues with this sport and discipline, just imagine.

Kars · Nov 22, 2013

Just enjoy those timeless moments.
When one starts to dream of great numbers, timeless moments become a rare occasion.

I do see a value of exploring one's abilities, however I like to explain that expectations block people from having great feeling dives.

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

sanso · Nov 22, 2013

Listen to Kars. He knows.

Oliver Olson · Nov 22, 2013

Well said.... and good advice. Mostly I think about the time I have spent under the water and the most perfect peace I feel for what are only maybe 2 minutes at a time. Even for those 2 minutes I am something else, or some where else and 2 minutes seems longer. Like you say timeless. I'm over joyed by the possibility that something like asthma which could have limited me in some places could make me exceptional in the one place I always thought I should be. I only want to make sure I take full advantage of a gift, if that's what it turns out to be.

cdavis · Nov 22, 2013

Oliver,

You are at an enviable age. Breathhold ability seems to get better with age, up to a point. Probably slowing metabolism, or maybe its easier to let go and relax. For sure, my breath hold got longer with age. Discovering DB and regular training also made a huge difference.

Eleven is a fabulous age to teach your kid to dive, enjoy.

Where do you live?

Connor

Oliver Olson · Nov 22, 2013

Indecently, we just received our new wetsuits and masks yesterday, tomorrow I expect delivery for the rest, fins, gloves, sox, belts, etc.
It will interesting to see how well I can tolerate the cold in 7mm.

Oliver Olson · Nov 22, 2013

We live in the Pacific North West, Puget Sound area. We are 1 hour east of Everett. at the base of the Cascades Mtns.

mrjomac · Nov 22, 2013

Hi Oliver, guess what?
I had pretty bad asthma until about 4 years of age, like a bloody elephant sitting on yer chest, just turned 48 and become a grandpa, and started freediving with a vengeance last summer ;-)

Methinks no problems going diving if you feel well.

re: I was watching a You tube video showing proper breathe hold technique...
Vids can be great but take care because what works for one person may not be right for the next, and an advanced breathing technique can make you hyperventilate. What may work for a trained body may not work well for an untrained one.

Personally whenever I try anything new I try it dry static and apnea stretching before getting wet to see there's no bad dizzyness and contractions still start around halfway through the holds.

Have fun

Oliver Olson · Nov 22, 2013

Oliver Olson said:
Indecently, we just received our new wetsuits and masks yesterday, tomorrow I expect delivery for the rest, fins, gloves, sox, belts, etc.
It will interesting to see how well I can tolerate the cold in 7mm.

Incidentally......Auto correct phff..

Rik · Dec 20, 2013

There have been quite a lot of experience with Astma in France, that freediving can reduce the sevirity of the attacks. This is described in the work of J.H. Corriol. (But it is in French). Stig Severinsen also wrote about this in his book, and it does make sense that freediving can decrease asthma attacks.

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