Loss of CO2 Sensitivity and Breathing Exercises

Learning the Buteyko method by modules

Module 8-A. Restrictions, side effects, limits, and temporary contraindications

Loss of CO2 sensitivity is a specific topic that can be very important for some students. Unfortunately, most Western Buteyko trainers and practitioners do not have any information or even tests and practical approaches to solve this problem,. It is discussed in detail in Oxygen Remedy.

This problem is caused by too large alveolar CO2 increase and takes place only in small number of people who are genetically predisposed to heart disease, suffer from allergies, inflammation, low body weight, overheating, a lack of Ca and arginine in diet, and/or lack of deep stages of sleep. It is a combination of factors that leads to loss of CO2 sensitivity.

Loss of CO2 sensitivity causes vasoconstriction and reduced blood flow to vital organs. The effect can cause headaches and drastically reduce well-being of a person.

Loss of CO2 sensitivity is manifested in dys-regulation of breathing and sudden increase in resting pulse, generally up to 90 beats per minute or more, The effect can last for hours, weeks, or months depending on the lifestyle and changes made.

Treatment of lost CO2 sensitivity

Among crucial factors for recovery from lost CO2 sensitivity are no air hunger, no breath holds, arginine in diet (to increase nitric oxide production), no overheating or overcooling, humming (after meals or nearly all the time), correct posture, avoidance of low and high blood glucose levels, and some other factors.

Reference pages: Breathing norms and medical facts:
- Breathing norms: Parameters, graph, and description of the normal breathing pattern
- 6 breathing myths: Myths and superstitions about breathing and body oxygenation (prevalence: over 90%)
- Hyperventilation: Definitions of hyperventilation: their advantages and weak points
- Hyperventilation syndrome: Western scientific evidence about prevalence of chronic hyperventilation in patients with chronic conditions (37 medical studies)
- Normal minute ventilation: Small and slow breathing at rest is enjoyed by healthy subjects (14 studies)
- Hyperventilation prevalence: Present in over 90% of normal people (24 medical studies)
- HV and hypoxia: How and why deep breathing reduces oxygenation of cells and tissues of all vital organs
- Body-oxygen test (CP test) : How to measure your own breathing and body oxygenation (two in one) using a simple DIY test
- Body oxygen in healthy: Results for the body-oxygen test for healthy people (27 medical studies)
- Body oxygen in sick : Results for the body-oxygen test for sick people (14 medical studies)
- Buteyko Table of Health Zones: Clinical description and ranges for breathing zones: from the critically ill (severely sick) up to super healthy people with maximum possible body oxygenation
- Morning hyperventilation: Why people feel worse and critically ill people are most likely to die during early morning hours

References: pages about CO2 effect:
- 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: How alveolar CO2 influences oxygen transport
- Oxygen transport: O2 transport is controlled by vasoconstriction-vasodilation and the Bohr effects, both of which rely on CO2
- Free radical generation: Reactive oxygen species are produced within cells due to anaerobic cell respiration caused by cell hypoxia
- Inflammatory response: Chronic inflammation in fueled by the hypoxia-inducible factor 1, while normal breathing reduces and eliminates inflammation
- Nerve stabilization: People remain calm due to calmative or sedative effects of carbon dioxide in neurons or nerve cells
- Muscle relaxation: Relaxation of muscle cells is normal at high CO2, while hypocapnia causes muscular tension, poor posture and, sometimes, aggression and violence
- Bronchodilation: Dilation of airways (bronchi and bronchioles) is caused by carbon dioxide, and their constriction by hypocapnia (low CO2)
- Blood pH: Regulation of blood pH due to breathing and regulation of other bodily fluids
- CO2: lung damage: Elevated carbon dioxide prevents lung injury and promotes healing of lung tissues
- CO2: Topical carbon dioxide can heal skin and tissues
- Synthesis of glutamine in the brain, CO2 fixation, and other chemical reactions
- Deep breathing myth: Ignorant and naive people promote the idea that deep breathing and breathing more air at rest is beneficial for health
- Breathing control: How is our breathing regulated? Why hypocapnia makes breathing uneven, irregular and erratic.

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