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>There are some studies, however, that show even relatively mild levels of hypoxia (deficiency in oxygen) can alter our ability to think clearly. I do CO2 and

>There are some studies, however, that show even relatively mild levels of hypoxia (deficiency in oxygen) can alter our ability to think clearly. I do CO2 and O2 training tables for training longer breath holds. [1] I sometimes do these while playing Overwatch. I have noticed that I play like an absolute idiot while I am on a breath hold. I just end up making really tiny mistakes that I wouldn't normally, or running into situations that I shouldn't have. 1. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gix.apneatrainer&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gix.apneatrain...

curun1r 9y ago
Interesting...I've also spent a lot of time training in apnea, but I've never tried to test my cognitive abilities while training. Instead, I try to get to a state of meditative non-thought while training since it seems to improve results. So, I'm curious...do the mistakes start immediately or do they only kick in once you're near the end of your hold? The first 1-2 minutes of a hold are so easy for me that I'd be surprised if there were many negative cognitive effects. Also, I used to get pretty severe effects from altitude whenever I'd go above about 10k elevation. But since I've trained apnea, the headaches, nausea and general crabbiness haven't happened and I've even been able to go for ~5 mi jogs. So I'm curious whether people who've trained in apnea would be somewhat resistant to the effects of flying just because our training has pushed us so far beyond the effects of flying that our bodies are accustomed to it. Of course it's also possible that we'd still be feeling the effects and just have a blind spot to it because we're more used to noticing the end stages of oxygen deprivation.
- TACIXAT 9y ago
  I'm pretty new to it, so my rounds are only just above 1 minute. I might just not have the CO2 tolerance yet, but I definitely notice some cognitive effects. My blood oxygen saturation during these generally stays above 90%. I'll try pay more attention to when the issues kick in and measure my blood oxygen then. I've read that it's around 50% saturation that you're in danger of passing out, and most oximeters are only accurate to 70%. I've gotten no where close to those numbers though, so it's likely just lack of CO2 tolerance.
  - curun1r 9y ago
    I wouldn't worry about O2 saturation with regard to passing out. When I've done holds using an oximeter, I can't really get my SpO2 below 90% either, even when I know I'm pretty close. But there's just so much that contributes to being near blackout that isn't oxygen saturation that you're better off learning to recognize the subtle physiological cues. For example, you can blackout earlier (higher measurable O2 saturation) if you inhale too deeply. It may seem counterintuitive, but expanding your lungs more fully can increase pressure on the heart and make it harder for it to distribute the blood to your body and brain. Your blackout O2 saturation will also differ depending on how much gravity your heart is having to deal with. Standing, sitting and lying down will have different blackout O2 saturations and that's only considering dry training...in water, both swimming position and depth/pressure will factor in too. So when I'm doing a hold, the main things I pay attention to are first diaphragm (first contractions, for me, are pretty reliably at 1/3-1/2 of a max hold), and then the feeling in my fingers/toes, but you'll start to notice a couple of other sensations as well if you start pushing yourself to the brink. Incidentally, you can be pretty sure if CO2 tolerance is your limiting factor if your first contractions come in the second half of your hold.
glandium 9y ago
This Smarter Every Day video demonstrates how dumb you can get under (less mild) hypoxia (and why it's important to take care of your own oxygen mask before others') https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw

curun1r 9y ago

Interesting...I've also spent a lot of time training in apnea, but I've never tried to test my cognitive abilities while training. Instead, I try to get to a state of meditative non-thought while training since it seems to improve results. So, I'm curious...do the mistakes start immediately or do they only kick in once you're near the end of your hold? The first 1-2 minutes of a hold are so easy for me that I'd be surprised if there were many negative cognitive effects. Also, I used to get pretty severe effects from altitude whenever I'd go above about 10k elevation. But since I've trained apnea, the headaches, nausea and general crabbiness haven't happened and I've even been able to go for ~5 mi jogs. So I'm curious whether people who've trained in apnea would be somewhat resistant to the effects of flying just because our training has pushed us so far beyond the effects of flying that our bodies are accustomed to it. Of course it's also possible that we'd still be feeling the effects and just have a blind spot to it because we're more used to noticing the end stages of oxygen deprivation.

TACIXAT 9y ago
I'm pretty new to it, so my rounds are only just above 1 minute. I might just not have the CO2 tolerance yet, but I definitely notice some cognitive effects. My blood oxygen saturation during these generally stays above 90%. I'll try pay more attention to when the issues kick in and measure my blood oxygen then. I've read that it's around 50% saturation that you're in danger of passing out, and most oximeters are only accurate to 70%. I've gotten no where close to those numbers though, so it's likely just lack of CO2 tolerance.
- curun1r 9y ago
  I wouldn't worry about O2 saturation with regard to passing out. When I've done holds using an oximeter, I can't really get my SpO2 below 90% either, even when I know I'm pretty close. But there's just so much that contributes to being near blackout that isn't oxygen saturation that you're better off learning to recognize the subtle physiological cues. For example, you can blackout earlier (higher measurable O2 saturation) if you inhale too deeply. It may seem counterintuitive, but expanding your lungs more fully can increase pressure on the heart and make it harder for it to distribute the blood to your body and brain. Your blackout O2 saturation will also differ depending on how much gravity your heart is having to deal with. Standing, sitting and lying down will have different blackout O2 saturations and that's only considering dry training...in water, both swimming position and depth/pressure will factor in too. So when I'm doing a hold, the main things I pay attention to are first diaphragm (first contractions, for me, are pretty reliably at 1/3-1/2 of a max hold), and then the feeling in my fingers/toes, but you'll start to notice a couple of other sensations as well if you start pushing yourself to the brink. Incidentally, you can be pretty sure if CO2 tolerance is your limiting factor if your first contractions come in the second half of your hold.

glandium 9y ago

This Smarter Every Day video demonstrates how dumb you can get under (less mild) hypoxia (and why it's important to take care of your own oxygen mask before others') https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw