Apnea while driving ok?

[Ubuntu]

I read the sticky thread on the basics of free diving, so will now ask (several) questions not answered in that thread. If my questions are already answered before, just a link to such archived thread will suffice.
Driving to and from work I spend 35 minutes in the car. I hold my breath in moderation while driving. Is the possibility of a blackout enough to have me rather stop this practice? Typical scenario would be breathing for half minute then apnea for one and half minute.
Thanx for this magic forum.

[BennyB]

Hi Ubuntu,

Please PM me your contact details before you drive home today and i'll forward them onto the good people at the Darwin Awards The Darwin Awards

I wouldn't do it for a few different reasons. Firstly, you'll probably die. If you're not blacking out or samba'ing then you're not concentrating on the road as you're looking at your watch all the time and generally in a state of distraction and discomfort. You might speed up because somehow that'll help you go for longer. You might not react quickly enough to other traffic or pedestrians. I know a mate who ran off the road after I think it was a small BO whilst driving. He was damn lucky as he doesn't drive slow.

The other reason is that I think it's pretty ordinary training - you're not really achieving much with small breath holds. Much better arriving home alive and giving it a good go on the lounge watching the telly.

I know we all love the ocean and want to do better and all that, but seriously - we don't have to hold our breath everywhere we go!

Cheers,
Ben

Welcome to the forums too! Stick around and you'll learn plenty of good training techniques.

[trux]

Definitely avoid that. It is a very irresponsible behavior! When driving you should be doing nothing else than driving, and be fully concentrated only on that. Blackout is the extreme case, but already a light loss of motoric control (samba) may lead to a fatal accident. And even reducing the oxygenation of your brain and organism even only slightly (far before samba), means reducing its capacity to evaluate the situation and react correctly and quickly.

If you want to hazard with your life, you certainly find better occasions. The problem is that in the car you are putting life of others into risk.

[naiad]

I'll second that. Here is a thread on dry apnea safety.
http://forums.deeperblue.net/safety/...ea-safety.html

[Erik]

I'd substitute that with doing 1 or 2 breathholds before you leave for work. Your drive will be more pleasant and you will be in a good state of awareness

[azapa]

i confess that i tried this way back when starting out, i remember getting to almost 3 mins. only in slow traffic, but i now realize it was probably one of the worlds stupidest ideas, live (luckily) and learn

[podge]

Apnea while driving ok?

In a word mate NO is what could happen if you carry on with the apnea driving.
may be you could try something a little safer like apnea tightrope walking.

[cdavis]

Well, some of these guys may be a bit rabid, but it really is not a good idea. Having tried several different scenarios while driving, I can say from experience (yeah, the Darwin guys would love me) that it can be different from normal apnea in ways that will sneak up on you and can get you killed. For example, it is extremely easy to go into hypocapnic blackout. One or two good deep breaths, followed by a full lung hold, and I am well on my way to blacking out. No fun to be driving along and lose all vision at about 6 seconds into the hold. Nothing you can do about it for a few seconds, either. Not sure why this is, but its not a good thing to explore.

Connor

[apneaboy]

I read the sticky thread on the basics of free diving

Lack of oxygen=BO

Next question.

p.s.

I tried relaxation techniques going to work. I tried meditation type exercises and even that i don't recommend. I remember one day thinking this meditation is good for chilling out in traffic jams 'cos i don't get stressed anymore but once you get too relaxed the fact cars are slowing down in front of you doesn't seem to have consequence anymore....... not good when really i should be applying the brakes but i wasn't concentrating on future events.

That was without holding my breath. lol.

I know it may seem no-one is on your side on this site buddy, but Comatose Dave and Road kill Henry were practisioners, they don't post much now.... anyone seen them recently?

[jome]

Obviously not ok - as others have already mentioned.

One thing I'd like to add is packing blackouts, which happen at the START of apnea. Not dangerous on the couch, but could be fatal in traffic. The upright position makes it especially risky. And while I say packing BO, it is entirely possible to get one with just a quick, full inhale if you're for example poorly hydrated and sitting upright.

Another thing - I don't know if this has been documented or researched, but after apnea I usually get a little "slow" feeling. It's like all my reflexes are reactions are slow, kind of like after a few drinks. I try to avoid driving a car for at least on hour after hard training for this reason. And obviously I do not train during traffic.

And as Benny pointed out - it makes no sense in training point of view either, no real training benefit so I think this is a no-brainer if you consider benefit vs. cost (risk) - the ratio is pretty poor.

[samdive]

there's some research on this in the DAN report that came out last year - if I remember rightly it says to wait at least 1 1/2 hours after apnea before driving - which feels about right to me, I definitely notice my concentration levels suffering before that

Sam

[rbsub]

Ubuntu, search in the forum for "walking apnea". What about a nice walk after coming home?

Although not being without dangers, it is much safer for you and has much more training effects.

And remember: with apnea driving you don't risk only your life. You risk the lives of others too!!!

[fleshy]

I do breath holds in class...

[Ubuntu]

Ok ok ok – I got the message and will not patent this method of training.
Thanx for the response – I realize it is well meant.
Ubuntu

[Erik]

Originally Posted by jome

Another thing - I don't know if this has been documented or researched, but after apnea I usually get a little "slow" feeling. It's like all my reflexes are reactions are slow, kind of like after a few drinks. .

My interpretation of that is that I experience the sense of time in a different way- similar to any meditative state, but I believe my reaction times are only affected in a positive way.