2007-03-28 06:24:45 · 3 answers · asked by SA 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Chemoreceptors that monitor the CO2 and O2 levels will eventually override the voluntary effort to suppress respiration -- and if somehow the person can maintain it, syncope (fainting) occurs due to hypoxia, after which reflexes take over and normal respiration resumes.
2007-04-01 02:53:12 · answer #1 · answered by citizen insane 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Obviously, holding your breath raises your CO2 level and gives you an overwhelming drive to breathe. That seems pretty obvious.
However, the pH of your blood is very carefully regulated by the bicarbonate buffering system. Holding your breath changes your pH only a little.
2007-03-29 06:07:26 · answer #2 · answered by Jeye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably the first thing that happens is that the pH of your blood falls as CO2 builds up and combines with H2O to make carbonic acid. this gets sensed by your brainstem, which sounds the alarm and makes you breathe. however, if it is unable to get oxygen, your brainstem dies, which translates to you dying.
2007-03-28 23:25:29 · answer #3 · answered by clark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋