Can Body and Brain Oxygen Content Be Measured?

“All chronic pain, suffering and diseases are caused
from a lack of oxygen at the cell level."
Prof. A.C. Guyton, MD, The Textbook of Medical Physiology*

* World’s most widely used medical textbook of any kind
* World's best-selling physiology book

Total brain oxygen content

If we look at this Graph showing oxygen levels in one cross section of the human brain, we can notice that oxygen distribution is very inhomogeneous. The most oxygenated area is around the hypothalamus that is also called as the most ancient or primitive brain present even in simplest creatures. The hypothalamus is responsible for primitive reflexes and bodily reactions, and it is generally the most active area of the brain. Since nerve activity requires more oxygen, the nature provided the hypothalamus with rich network of arteries to provide more blood (and oxygen).

Depending on the situation and state of the human body, certain areas of the brain, similar to hypothalamus, can be more or less active requiring different oxygen supply, and that explains why this graph shows inhomogeneous oxygen distribution for normal breathing and hyperventilation that is present in over 90% of modern people.

In addition, on a cell level, oxygen distribution among neighboring cells can also vary widely. Those cells that are adjacent to capillaries can have high oxygen pressure (up to 4-5% or around 30-38 mm Hg). But more distant cells (cells can be located as far away as 3-4 cells away from the nearest blood vessel) can have only 1% or about 7.6 mm Hg for oxygen partial pressure.

Therefore, it is very difficult to measure total brain oxygen content. Even if we make thousands of similar PET scans, and then define average oxygenation for each cross section and then average content for the whole brain, there is a large factor related to this cellular oxygen distribution effect.

Total oxygen content in the body

The situation with total body oxygen content is even more complex. Blood flow to different organs is greatly influenced by the autoregulation effect that can change perfusion of certain organs up to 3-4 times. Autoregulation takes place due to various bodily processes, such as digestion, sleep, exercise, adaptation to temperature changes, emotions, local and global infections, local inflammation, and many others. Therefore, the total picture is very complex and, from the purely technical viewpoint, total body oxygen content is exceptionally difficult and expensive to measure.

A simple DIY test to measure body and brain oxygen content

Dr. Buteyko respiratory laboratory in the 1960's Dr. Buteyko had devices to measure body oxygen levels and knew about the effects described above when he worked as the Manager of the Laboratory of the Functional Diagnostic in Novosibirsk (see the photo of his Laboratory from the 1960’s on the right) for first Soviet Spaceship Missions. He was also interested in finding total body oxygen content. After years of research, he stated,

"Oxygen content in the organism can be found using a simple method: after exhalation, observe, how long the person can pause their breath without stress" Dr. K. P.Buteyko, "Dr. Buteyko lecture in the Moscow State University on 9 December 1969"

This observation makes sense since, in spite of autoregulation and inhomogeneous O2 distribution, CO2 is the main factor that controls oxygen delivery and blood flow in a dose dependent manner. For example, numerous studies proved that blood flow to various organs is linearly proportional to the arterial CO2 level. Furthermore, clinical observations of over 100 Soviet and Russian physicians suggests that this test is simple and exceptionally valuable in order to define the current physiological state of the person, their symptoms and requirements in medication. For a small portion of people (about 1% or less in ordinary people and slightly more in the sick), this simple body oxygen test is not an accurate measure for their health.

For more information about normal numbers, numbers in sick people, and exact details of this test to measure brain and body abd brain oxygen content, visit DIY body oxygen test.

References: CO2 Effects Web Pages
Vasodilation: CO2 expands arteries and arterioles facilitating perfusion (or blood supply) to all vital organs
The Bohr effect How and why oxygen is released by red blood cells in tissues
Cell Oxygen Levels and oxygen transport are controlled by alveolar CO2 and breathing
Oxygen Transport depends on breathing and these two effects (Vasoconstriction-Vasodilation and the Bohr effect) are parts of two diagrams that summarize influences of hypocapnia (low CO2 content in the blood and cells) on circulation and O2 delivery
Free Radical Generation takes place due to anaerobic cell respiration caused by cell hypoxia. Hence, antioxidant defenses of the human body are also regulated by CO2 and breathing
Inflammatory Response is controlled by breathing since hypoxia leads to or intensifies chronic inflammation through over-expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1, while normal breathing reduces these processes
Nerve stabilization takes place due to calmative or sedative effects of carbon dioxide in neurons or nerve cells
Muscle relaxation or relaxation of muscle cells is normal at high CO2, while hypocapnia causes muscular tension, poor posture and, sometimes, aggression and violence
Brochodilation - dilation of airways (bronchi and bronchioles) by carbon dioxide, and their constriction due to hypocapnia
CO2: Best Natural Cough Suppressant and "home remedy" since it calms urge-to-cough nerve receptors located in the tracheobronchial tree and larynx
Blood pH regulation and regulation of other bodily fluids
CO2: Lung Damage Healer: Elevated carbon dioxide prevents injury and promotes healing of lung tissues
CO2: Skin and Tissue Healer
Synthesis of Glutamine in the Brain, CO2 fixation, and other chemical reactions
CO2 myth "CO2 is a toxic waste gas" myth
Breathing control How is our breathing regulated? Why hypocapnia makes breathing uneven and erratic?

Reference Web Pages: Breathing norms, Medical Graphs and Tables about Breathing Rates (Minute Ventilation) and Body Oxygen in Healthy, Normal and Sick People
Breathing norms Parameters, graph, and description of the normal breathing pattern
6 breathing myths 6 myths about breathing and body oxygenation (prevalence: over 90%)
Hyperventilation Definitions of hyperventilation: their advantages and weak points
Hyperventilation Syndrome in the Sick. Table 1. Western scientific evidence about prevalence of CHV (chronic hyperventilation) in patients with various chronic conditions (34 medical studies)
Normal Minute Ventilation in Healthy Subjects: Easy and Light Breathing (14 Studies)
Hyperventilation Prevalence Present in Over 90% of Normal People (24 medical publications)
HV and hypoxia How and why deep breathing reduces oxygenation of cells and tissues of all vital organs
Body oxygen test How to measure your own breathing and body oxygenation (a simple DIY test)
Body oxygen in healthy Table 4. CP (body oxygen level) in healthy people (27 medical studies)
Body oxygen in sick Table 5. CP (body oxygen level) in sick people (14 medical studies)
Buteyko Table of Health Zones with clinical description of most common zones
Morning HV Morning hyperventilation effect or how and why critically ill people are most likely to die during early morning hours

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