The person who can hold their breath the longest, based on a verifiable world record, is Budimir Šobat.
Breath-Holding Record
According to the provided reference, professional breath-hold diver Budimir Šobat holds the world record for holding his breath underwater, at an impressive 24 minutes and 37 seconds.
Factors Affecting Breath-Holding Ability
Several factors influence a person's ability to hold their breath. These factors include:
- Lung Capacity: Individuals with larger lung capacities can typically hold their breath for longer periods, as they have more oxygen available in their lungs.
- Tolerance to Carbon Dioxide: During breath holding, the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood rises while oxygen (O2) declines. The urge to breathe primarily comes from the rising CO2, which becomes increasingly intense as the breath hold continues. Therefore, a higher tolerance to rising CO2 levels is essential for extended breath holds. As mentioned in the reference, this urge to breathe initially increases about 30 seconds into the breath hold.
- Training and Technique: Professional breath-hold divers train extensively to improve their breath-holding capacity and tolerance, utilizing specific techniques to maximize their efficiency. This training often includes static apnea exercises where they practice holding their breath while stationary.
- Metabolic Rate: A lower metabolic rate translates to less oxygen consumption, which can contribute to longer breath-hold times. Divers sometimes consciously lower their heart rate through various techniques to slow down metabolism and therefore oxygen consumption.
- Physiological Factors: Individual physiology and genetic predispositions can also play a role in breath-hold capacity.
The Physiology of Breath-Holding
Here is a simplified view of the physiological process during breath holding:
- Oxygen Depletion: As you hold your breath, the oxygen in your lungs is consumed by your body, causing the oxygen level in your blood to decrease.
- Carbon Dioxide Increase: Simultaneously, the carbon dioxide produced by your body cannot be expelled, leading to an increase in its concentration in your blood. This is the main trigger for the urge to breathe.
- Physiological Response: Your body eventually responds to the rising CO2 levels by increasing the diaphragm contractions. This signals the need to take a breath.
Conclusion
Budimir Šobat's record demonstrates the incredible capacity of the human body to adapt and withstand conditions of oxygen deprivation. While most individuals can hold their breath for a relatively short time, professional divers like Šobat use intensive training and precise techniques to achieve such remarkable feats.
