Can contractions be dangerous?

[thestefanhansen]

The good news: today I got my finger oximeter!
The bad news: I might be a sissy.

With the oximeter on I can see my heart rate and my oxygen saturation. My heart rate drops FAST, down to 38. But even after 90 seconds of contractions my SaO2 is only down to 84 % at the lowest. And my contractions become rather wild the last 30-45 seconds, before I give in and breathe.

With the oximeter I feel safe, as I can see that I'm far from any danger of black out. So my question now is this: is there ANY chance of danger/injury if I suck it up and - despite "full body" contractions - keep holding my breath until my SaO2 drops down to something like 70 %?

Oh, I should say that I'm talking about static DRY apnea.

Thanks!

 

[Youbuur]

Hey bro,

I've never heard or read that contractions can injure you. At least if the breath hold is preformed lying still. But maybe you should get others opinion on this aswell. There are more experienced static freedivers than me.


Best regards Youbuur
--------------------------------------------
Check out my freediving channel on youtube. Tutorials on freediving and gear reviews

http://www.youtube.com/user/freediveryoubuur

 

[Duge]

Helo Stephan,

Normally the contractions should have no harm to you, as it is only the way the autonomous nervous system communicates with you that the organism needs to breath. Take this information thankfully and go on nicely rofl
You need to find a point when you start to have deeper complications, which can for example prevent you from swimming, or getting blackout. This part is an unknown zone for me as I have never experienced it...

It is quite simillar with body telling you it is hungry or thirsty - it is urging you to eat and drink as soon as possible to keep its function an dreserves for extreme situations, but you can convince it that you are aware of it, and that the information from the body doesnt need to be so strong. Like with fasting... This is just air fasting :martial

Can you post what did you buy for measurement equipment?

 

[thestefanhansen]

Great explanation Air fasting!

 

[thestefanhansen]

Duge, you asked about the oximeter I use. Sorry for not replying sooner. It's this one: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Finger-Pulse-Oximeter-SM-110-Carry-Wrist/dp/B003TJH3LI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1374770074&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Finger Pulse Oximeter SM-110 with Carry Case and Neck/Wrist Cord: Health & Personal Care@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416fMdPZQyL.@@AMEPARAM@@416fMdPZQyL[/ame].

I like it, but if its values are correct, then my body seemingly "refuse" to use oxygen. Even after many hard contractions, and a heart rate of less than 40, my SaO2 never drops below 84 %, and mostly it doesn't even drop below 90 %. Can that be right?

 

[Duge]

Hello Stefan, thank you for the link.

Unfortunately I have no experience with this kind of equipment, so I can help you with this, but I am interested in it.

Hope you get the answer.

 

[J Campbell]

Yes, those O2 sat numbers look right. Typically you are fully saturated until the very end of a max breath hold.

 

[thestefanhansen]

I see. Thanks Mark. So can I safely suck it up until the SpO2 is lower? If so, then how low?

 

[Simos]

Strong contractions at depth or while on empty could cause you injuries, as well as doing stretching etc while having contractions etc.

If dry, lying down and on full lung probably less chances of such an injury but my guess is that once you start having contractions you cannot fully trust the SpO2 values you see. Contractions actually help keep you from blacking out but obviously only for so long...