HYPOXIX CO2 Tolerance Test

Please take this HYPOXIX CO2 Tolerance Test and post your results underneath this post. I suggest retaking this test once every 4 weeks to observe your improvements over time!

What is a CO2 Tolerance Test?

This test measures your carbon dioxide threshold or that point at which the rising carbon dioxide levels in your body trigger your chemoreceptors (the receptors that sense carbon dioxide in your body). The more you train your slow breathing the less sensitive your chemoreceptors will become because you are exposing these chemoreceptors to higher levels of carbon dioxide over time. This is good! Many of us are hyper-ventilators based on a mouth that is left open (mouth-breathing) or simply the act of conversation, whether social or professional, can leave us with low carbon dioxide levels due to a high frequency of breathing. Low carbon dioxide levels can induce muscle spasms based on improper utilization of calcium in the muscle cell, dizziness, brain fog, low energy, and inadequate oxygenation of the muscle and organs throughout the day. Yes, that’s right - counterintuitive, right? You’d think that breathing more would equate to more oxygen in and more oxygen to the muscle, but the opposite is true! Because of the Bohr Effect, when oxygen levels become too high (99-100% saturation), the hemoglobin holds tight to the oxygen and it doesn’t release into the places that need it to do better work, the muscle, brain, and other organs. When carbon dioxide levels rise in the body, blood oxygen slightly lowers, and the oxygen molecule disassociates from the hemoglobin…it is then free to be used by the muscle (myoglobin) and brain. On the neural note, CBF, cerebral blood flow, increases when carbon dioxide increases in the body due to carbon dioxide’s vasodilation effect on blood vessels. More blood flow = more oxygen = greater adaption potential. In terms of chemoreceptors in the brain, there is some evidence to show that the locus coeruleus area of the brain, which is a main driver of noradrenaline, has a high density of chemoreceptors. Lessening the sensitivity of these chemoreceptors could mean less “stress spikes” due to being less “stressed” by carbon dioxide spikes. If our carbon dioxide threshold is low, we may be in a constant state of panic, and constantly triggered to take a breath, contributing to the vicious cycle of over-breathing and being in a state of hypo-capnia with all of its negative side effects.

HYPOCAPNIA: low carbon dioxide
HYPERCAPNIA: high carbon dioxide

The HYPOXIX CO2 Tolerance test is designed to mimic the Breathography breathing in class, but with a strong difference, the blow out through the mouth is NOT a forced exhale. In fact, you are trying to elongate the exhale for as long as possible, so core engagement is not the focus. Also, many CO2 tolerance tests are done through the nose only. Why do I do it through pursed lips? Well, it’s HENfor standardization purposes. There could be a lot of variability from one test to the next based on congestion. Also, between subjects, there is a lot more variability in nostril size than a pursed lips “blowing” position. Additionally, the use of the metronome and the very specific timing of the 4 breaths adds a much higher level of precision for us to compare between our own results over time and also each other’s results.

WHEN to stop the clock? Because the CO2 TOLERANCE test is measuring your tolerance to carbon dioxide in your system, we are ultimately evaluating how sensitive your chemoreceptors are to carbon dioxide rising in your system. If you are HIGHLY sensitive, you will be triggered to take a breath within the first 10 - 20 seconds. If you have chemoreceptors that are less sensitive, you could last all the way to 60-90 seconds. Ultimately, you should stop the timer when you either swallow (a sign of stress) or you feel an urge to take an inhale. Make sure to post your results here and retest in 4 weeks. Please check out the suggested “Placement Chart” based on your results from this test. Remember, this is NOT a test as to how long you can hold your breath. Many can hold their breath for more than 1 minute, but feel urges to breath or stress triggered several times during that breath hold (all signs of being “triggered” by the carbon dioxide levels in your body. You might consider taking the CO2 Tolerance test 3-4 times and taking an average to see what your baseline is. This is because your tolerance will shift slightly each day based on stress levels, sleep, training, etc).

Here are some TIPS on properly posting your CO2 Tolerance scores below this post:

POSTING YOUR CO2 TOLERANCE SCORES

FIRST:
Make sure to hit REPLY under the main post to post your initial score.

SECOND:

Notice what my original post of 58 looks like. The second photo is my score of 72 at the end of 8 weeks. You hit REPLY under YOUR initial score (58 in this case) and post your second score there. This keeps it organized for future reference!

I look forward to seeing your results below this post, and our discussion that ensues!

AJ