Is Passing Out On Purpose (Lack Of Oxygen) Bad For You?

Question

Well I've been at school and my friends have been talking about "Passing Out On Purpose". I've done it two times already and I'm not sure if its bad.

So now your probably wondering what do-right? Well first you get yourself, or a friend, to breath in through their mouth with really big breaths (hyperventilating). After about 25 HUGE breaths, you signal your friend and you hold your breath. After holding your breath, your friend gets his palm and presses very hard on your mid-chest (where the ribs meet, next to the heard, between the "breasts"). Within 3-5 second usually the person holding their breath will faint or pass out.

Its a really cool feeling, but I just don't want to hurt myself. Always I make sure of the things around me so I don't fall and hit my head or anything. I'm usually sitting down so I don't get Suspension trauma.

Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw03d_YzJjQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc843xRc2Tw

So is this bad for me? Good Sources?

Answer 1

Just killing brain cells. I guess no worse than a beer. Just don't start hanging yourself alone, kids die every year doing stupid crap like that.

Answer 2

It is bad for you. The lack of oxygen makes you pass out. This lack of oxygen kills brain cells. You've tried it and now you know what it is like - which should sastify your curosity. But, it would be better to not make a habit of it.

Answer 3

When you hold your breath your body is no longer getting oxygen into the blood stream. Your brain needs oxygen to function. So, therefore, when you hold your breath you deprive your brain of oxygen. When you hold it for that long you can actually kill brain cells because they die from lack of oxygen. You turn blue because that's the color blood is when there's no oxygen being transported through it. It takes a while to actually kill the brain cells, but when you start getting light headed or dizzy that means you should breathe.

Answer 4

Is this bad for you? Well it sure isn't good and you are hurting your body depriving yourself of oxygen. If you die, and you could, does your friend know that by assisting you he will be charged for murder or manslaughter & spend many years in jail?
You will be dead & your family devasted, his family will be in shock & may never recover but he will be alive but what will he do for the rest of his life? Does anyone else at your school know about this? Hasn't anyone reported it yet? I am assuming that you'r still in school/college. If you are supposed to be a responsible adult you have a long long way to go. I could go on and on but most likely you will not read this far as it is. Both of you and your friends need more air. Your friends are talking about it you never mentioned if they were actually doing it. Only you. Are they just goading you to see how far you will go? Looks like the laugh is on you and maybe they will be prepared to give the eulogy at your funeral as well. With huge luck you might live to spend your life in a wheelchair - don't think your so called friends will be around to push it. You will wish many times that you had died. Your so young and with so much of life to look forward to - disassociate from these so called friends but if it was your idea to participate in this action you may find them putting distance away from you. Come on buck up and pull yourself up by the bootstraps - maybe you should join the army/navy/airforce I can think of a couple of mastersergeants that would love to help you. If you die serving your country at least you will have died for a purpose.

Answer 5

Yes, depriving your brain of oxygen is bad. You are causing an ischemic reaction. What is a stroke or a heart attack? It is an ischemic reaction to an occlusion of the vessels delivering oxygen to your body. Depriving your body of oxygen in any area causes tissue death if prolonged. Case in point man gets drunk, falls asleep with his leg draped over a couch and bent. Oxygen fails to be delivered to his leg because he is passed out and cannot feel it. Causes claudication and possible amputation of his extremity.

Do not play asphyxiation games, it is not kewl.

Answer 6

Your friends are not your friends.

Lack of oxygen kills brain cells and your heart can stop PERMANENTLY.

Many people die within seconds of lack of oxygen. Because you have gotten away so far does not mean you will always.

Stop before it is too late for you!

Answer 7

Logic would say yes because most of your body runs on oxygen so you could damage your body and most likely take a hit to the brain possibly too

Answer 8

I have heard of this. This is also called the "choking game" where kids will hang themselves and the others will release them as soon as they pass out to faint, and what they are experiencing is what they call a "natural high"..(without drugs that is).
Kids/Teens have DIED from this. Even from the game that you play. You are causing what is called a seizure. It is very small and you can't really feel it, but it is there and it is affecting you neuralogically. (your brain).
Here are a couple of links for you to review and learn from. Please pass on this message to all your friends. Make fliers if you have to and post them around school. You just might save someone if you pass out these fliers. From your question, you are not aware of the danger that lurks behind these games. Please do not do this any more. Or you can die. Love yourself, and your family around you enough to stop doing this. Here are those links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choking_game
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/28/earlyshow/main712411.shtml

Please take a look at these links. They will educate you on the severity of this game you are playing with your friends.

Be well. Hope this helps you.

Answer 9

Any time you cut oxygen off from your brain is bad for you. Is it really important for you to feel good when you could be killing brain cells? The more you do it the more cells you will kill. Your brain is the most important part of your body, so why would you cut it off from it's source of energy?

Answer 10

Back in 1995 I was on this Retreat with like 15 guys from school...it was one of those retreats up in the white mountains of NH. Anywho, we we're doing this thing where one kid puts his head between his knees and breathes very heavily for like a minute then he stands up and someone else pushes on his chest until he passes out. We we're all doing it and I remember this one kid, Chris...he passes out and we we're all trying to wake him up. About 30 seconds later he comes too and says that he was playing in a basketball game for the Boston Celtics, he went up for a layup, came down smashed his head on the parquet floor and all he medics we're around him going "CHRIS!! CHRIS! WAKE UP, BUDDY!". But in actuality what he was hearing was all of us saying those things. It was a riot!
Is it bad for you......duh, anythime you starve your brain of oxygen brain cells die....and those cells can never be replaced. So yeah, it's pretty bad for ya.

Answer 11

Your body needs oxygen for function. Any act that deprives you of life-giving oxygen is endangering your health.

Find something more productive and safe to do.