Holding your breath and BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 17 2009
Q: I notice that you state that holding one’s breath increases blood pressure. When I hold my breath, my blood pressure drops dramatically, like 50 or more points systolic and 20-30 on diastolic. Is there something wrong with me, or is your information not an absolute?
A: Keep in mind that nothing in medicine, or life for that matter, is absolute. You can breathe sympathetically or autonomically. Usually you are not aware of breathing, this is breathing through the autonomic system of your body. When you focus your consciousness on breathing, such as when you are holding your breath so no one will be alerted to your presence, you are breathing with your sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic breathing is associated with an increase in blood pressure. It is possible that you are so used to holding your breath; you do it without thinking, using your autonomic system. Since you seem worried, I recommend you discuss this further with your doctor.
Subscribe to comments
