increasing pressure in the brain

[qai4321]

Hi all, i wonder if there is a link, or better still, someone who could explain the drill that is used to increase the pressure in the brain. To avoid blackouts at the later stage of apnea.

cheers

 

[trux]

Search for "hook breath" in the beginner's sticky thread, or in the archive. However, it is not used during the apnea, but for the recovery breath (and sometimes in the breath-up). During the apnea, it is the diving response (vasoconstriction) and the diaphragmatic contractions that take care of it, so you do not really need to do it voluntarily. So far I am only aware of Eric Fattah who described using this technique during a breath-hold - but it was after exhaling on ascent from deeper dives, hence on empty lungs where the contractions loose efficiency (or perhaps are not there in his case). Eric uses a rather advanced and controversial technique, which I would definitely not advice to any beginner.

 

[qai4321]

Hi trux, the reason i asked was because of something i read towards the end of this article LearnFreediving.com
and something a guy said once when he did his 7 min static. He said that he had good pressure in his head, so he kept on going.

It got me wondering whether or not there was some training/visualization or something that improved the blood pressure in the head.
http://www.learnfreediving.com/data_center/05.asp

 

[trux]

Yes, as I wrote, the increased blood pressure is caused by vasoconstriction, and also increased by the involuntary diaphragmatic contractions. It comes alone and automatically. To learn more about it try reading a little bit about freediving physiology - you find plenty resources either in the beginner thread, in the freediving science thread, elsewhere on the web, or in some books (like for example the manual from Pelizzari).

 

[qai4321]

I take it you didnt read the link. Ill quote it to you, " I follow the drill to increase my blood pressure in the brain, which will also increase the oxygen's partial pressure there and help me stay conscious."

From this statement it looks like its not just automatic vasoconstriction and contractions that she is experiencing.

 

[trux]

Yes, indeed, I did not read it, but had a look at it now, and it is clear Yasemin speaks about the recovery hook-breaths I mentioned above:

By now Rudi will be in front of me, shouting encouragement and watching me carefully. I follow the drill to increase my blood pressure in the brain

Since Rudi is in front of her and shouting, she is on the surface, and starting the recovery. Hook breaths are indeed very helpful in such case. Check out the forum on more details about them, but basically you push with the diaphragm against closed epiglottis, increasing so the intrapulmonary pressure (and hence also the blood pressure).

 

[qai4321]

Hmm interesting, I assumed that the technique she was using was beneath the water, just before she surfaced. But now that I read it again, it looks like you might be right. Just hook breaths, huh? I was hoping for something more esoteric....