Naturally increase blood oxygen levels
Trigger your body's natural ability to produce more red blood cells using breath hold techniques
In this video I use a blood oxymeter to show the interplay between blood oxygen levels and heart rate during two rounds of Wim Hof Method Fundamental breathing practices with a soft breath hold at the end of each round.
As I hold my breath my body utilizes the available oxygen and produces CO2 as a by-product. Since I’m not breathing in or exhaling out, O2 begins to decline as witnessed by the oxymeter, heart rate vacillates between high to low and back up again, CO2 builds up and the process is repeated.
The build up of CO2 is an important factor in determining how efficiently your body extract the available oxygen from your blood and to your working muscles. CO2 is not bad, we need it, but just the right amount determined by a healthily functioning body.
This interplay between CO2 and O2 is a natural way to signal the body to release more oxygen carrying red blood cells and a whole host of hormones (such as Erythropoietin or EPO used by athletes to increase performance), all designed to help increase the flow and absorption of more oxygen within our body.
Generally speaking, these are the same effects of altitude training where athletes train in oxygen-scarce higher altitudes to entice the body to learn how to adapt to less available oxygen. Over time their bodies adapt, the spleen and kidneys begin to produce more red blood cells to help grab and carry more oxygen cells to the muscles. Concurrently the size of the red blood cells also changes, becoming larger to help transport more oxygen efficiently.
To net it for you, breathing practices that incorporate breath holds are an effective, science proven method to oxygenate your body for more efficient training by triggering your body’s natural ability to release more red blood cells and Erythropoietin.
This is a handy handout published in April 2020 by the Minnisotta Department of Health on using Pulse Oximetry applied to COVID-19. It’s a PDF so be ready!