How the BHT test is done

Sit down and rest for 5-7 minutes. Completely relax all your muscles, including the breathing muscles. This relaxation produces natural spontaneous exhalation (breathing out). Pinch your nose closed at the end of this exhalation and count your BHT (breath holding time) in seconds. Keep nose pinched until you experience the first desire to breathe. Practice shows that this first desire appears together with an involuntary push of the diaphragm or swallowing movement in the throat. (Your body warns you, “Enough!”) If you release the nose and start breathing at this time, you can resume your usual breathing pattern (in the same way as you were breathing prior to the test).
Do not extend breath holding too long. You should not gasp for air or open your mouth when you release your nose. The test should be easy and not cause you any stress. The BHT test does not interfere with your breathing.
         

Some western doctors call such a BHT test “a period of no respiratory sensations” because when the time is voluntarily extended there is a stress that increases with each further second of breath holding.

 

Look at the diagram above: after the test you can comfortably breathe as before the test. If you stop the test and resume breathing at your first desire to breathe, you will be able to breathe as before: no stress, an easy comfortable procedure.

If you hold the breath for too long, the first inhalations will be deeper, as shown here:

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