Normal breath-holding time in adults

Holding your breath for long periods of time is not something to be done every day, but it could be an important skill in an emergency.

Most people can hold their breath for somewhere between 30 seconds and up to 2 minutes.

Why try holding your breath longer?

There’s not necessarily an immediate, everyday benefit (other than a conversational icebreaker). But holding your breath can save your life in certain situations, like if you fall off a boat.

The record for holding your breath may be hard to top.

According to Guinness World Records, Budimir Šobat of Sisak, Croatia, set the bar high at 24 minutes and seconds in March

Let’s get into what’s happening in your body when you hold your breath, what possible side effects can happen if you don’t do it right, and what benefits you can get out of holding your breath longer.

Here’s what happens to your body when you hold your breath. The times are approximate:

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