Breath Hold Test

The breath-hold test is a method for studying the function of external respiration, which consists of determining the maximum duration of voluntary breath-holding in the test subject. This method is used to evaluate the respiratory system and identify possible problems in its functioning.

The breath-hold test is carried out as follows: the subject sits on a chair or lies down on the couch, then he is asked to hold his breath for the maximum possible period. During breath holding, a gradual decrease in the oxygen content in the blood occurs, which leads to the appearance of signs of hypoxia (dizziness, nausea, weakness, etc.).

Based on the results of the breath-hold test, one can judge the state of the respiratory system, the level of physical fitness and endurance of a person, as well as the presence or absence of lung diseases.

Normally, in a healthy person, the maximum duration of breath holding is about 60-90 seconds. However, this rate may be lower in people with lung disease or poor physical fitness.

Thus, the breath-hold test is an important method for studying the function of external respiration and allows us to identify possible disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system.

The test breath-holding method is an integral method for assessing the performance of external respiration of the lungs. The test method with maximum breath holding during inhalation and exhalation can help in determining the state of the respiratory system. This test can also detect problems with the airways and breathing control mechanisms.

The breath-hold test is used to evaluate: - Impaired respiratory function, - Bronchial asthma, - Diagnosis of lung diseases, - Consequences of using and resting the lungs during previous tests or diseases of other organs, - Response to exercise, - Changes in alveolar gas exchange.

Before the breath-hold test, you should rest to relieve accumulated tension; the procedure time should be at least 15 minutes. First, the person must inhale and exhale deeply. Next, he is asked to hold his breath as long as possible. After this time, tidal volumes and indicators are measured using a breathing meter. The tests are repeated several times with intermediate intervals between them to obtain results from which the patient's functional respiratory status can be assessed. This rapid test is suitable for identifying

**Breath-hold test** The test serves to assess the body’s ability to effectively use the entire oxygen supply that it received in the air being tested, and is a means of objective diagnosis of the respiratory center and peripheral parts of the bronchial tree.

A method for studying respiratory function - a breath-hold test. For the first time, two scientists thought about the function of external respiration (ERF) in the 19th century - the German physiologist Heinrich Hempel and the Austrian pediatric pulmonologist Ludwig Jacobson-Gripper. Thanks to their observations, they came to the conclusion: when inhaling and exhaling, a person’s lungs fill and empty of air. Through the breathing tube, air enters under pressure into the oral cavity and then into the lungs. This means that a person inhales and exhales, moving air into the respiratory system from the environment. The breath-hold test is a method for studying external respiratory movement. The method allows you to determine the maximum breath holding time - the studied respiratory function, reflecting the state of the respiratory system. Normal indicators indicate a person’s healthy lifestyle and compliance with recommended training and health recommendations. The timing of prolongation of respiratory function indicates the presence of abnormalities, pathologies, chronic or acute inflammation, pneumonia and other disorders of external respiration; accelerated rates are observed in cardiovascular disorders. Reduced indicators occur with a disturbed lifestyle, after infections. As a form of self-monitoring, a healthy person who wants to develop can regularly independently check their breathing parameters to assess their health. Impairment of external respiration occurs during oxygen starvation. Holding your breath is precisely the condition that indicates such disorders. If a person experiences shortness of breath, this means that he urgently needs help. It is almost impossible to continuously hold your breath, since after 4 seconds, breathing will be restored involuntarily and the patient will begin to experience symptoms of oxygen starvation. Stopping breathing in such a situation occurs due to weakness of the intercostal muscles or diaphragm, the inability of the lung tissue to return the normal level of carbon dioxide in the blood in time. These are the mechanisms for regulating respiratory movements - eliminating gas imbalance requires the participation of several factors, led by nervous and humoral regulation.

Breath Hold Test

The breath-hold test is a method for studying respiratory function, which allows you to assess the degree of efficiency of the lungs and heart. This test is an important tool in the diagnosis of many diseases. It allows you to determine how effectively the body copes with various types of stress and how long it can function without oxygen.

Principle of performing the test To perform the test, the patient must sit on a chair and breathe correctly. Then he is asked to hold his breath for a certain time. The results are assessed based on time indicators, as well as characteristics of chest movements. Based on these data, the doctor can draw conclusions about the patient's condition. Devices for performing breath-hold testing can be of various types, for example, special devices, devices designed only for recording breathing, or even only for measuring the delay time. But