Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers

Breath-hold diving performances are typically better in men than in women. However, it is still being determined if there are differences in the physiological responses to breath-holding between the sexes. We conducted a study comparing the maximum breath-hold duration, heart rate (HR) reduction, pe...

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Main Authors: Frank Pernett, Erika Schagatay, Pontus Holmström
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Physiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1515232/full
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author Frank Pernett
Erika Schagatay
Erika Schagatay
Pontus Holmström
Pontus Holmström
author_facet Frank Pernett
Erika Schagatay
Erika Schagatay
Pontus Holmström
Pontus Holmström
author_sort Frank Pernett
collection DOAJ
description Breath-hold diving performances are typically better in men than in women. However, it is still being determined if there are differences in the physiological responses to breath-holding between the sexes. We conducted a study comparing the maximum breath-hold duration, heart rate (HR) reduction, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and spleen volume and contraction in 37 men and 44 women, all of whom had no prior breath-holding experience. They performed two dry apneas separated by 2 min; the first was limited to 60 s, followed by a maximal effort apnea. HR and SpO2 were measured continuously. Spleen diameters were measured via ultrasonography before and immediately following each apnea. The maximal apneic duration was longer in men (78 ± 19 s) compared with women (61 ± 18 s, p < 0.001), while the HR reduction was similar (women: 16% ± 19% versus men: 16% ± 17%, p = 0.973). The absolute splenic contraction was greater in men (59 ± 56 mL) compared with women (35 ± 28 mL, p < 0.001) in the first apnea, while the relative contraction was similar (women: 21% ± 17% versus men: 23% ± 13%, p = 0.528). In addition, the lowest SpO2 during the maximal apnea was similar between sexes (women: 93.3% ± 4.4%; men: 91.9% ± 4.3%, p = 0.161). We conclude that men have larger spleen size and contraction, lung size, and maximal apneic duration than women. The cardiovascular diving response is similar between sexes for those inexperienced with apneic diving. The longer breath-hold duration in men may be partly due to greater oxygen storage capacity, which results from larger vital capacity and greater spleen size and contraction.
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spelling doaj-art-5889ca6e1dd24c1885f72510bf4c94132025-01-13T06:10:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-01-011510.3389/fphys.2024.15152321515232Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-diversFrank Pernett0Erika Schagatay1Erika Schagatay2Pontus Holmström3Pontus Holmström4Department of Health Sciences, Environmental Physiology Group, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Environmental Physiology Group, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Environmental Physiology Group, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenBreath-hold diving performances are typically better in men than in women. However, it is still being determined if there are differences in the physiological responses to breath-holding between the sexes. We conducted a study comparing the maximum breath-hold duration, heart rate (HR) reduction, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and spleen volume and contraction in 37 men and 44 women, all of whom had no prior breath-holding experience. They performed two dry apneas separated by 2 min; the first was limited to 60 s, followed by a maximal effort apnea. HR and SpO2 were measured continuously. Spleen diameters were measured via ultrasonography before and immediately following each apnea. The maximal apneic duration was longer in men (78 ± 19 s) compared with women (61 ± 18 s, p < 0.001), while the HR reduction was similar (women: 16% ± 19% versus men: 16% ± 17%, p = 0.973). The absolute splenic contraction was greater in men (59 ± 56 mL) compared with women (35 ± 28 mL, p < 0.001) in the first apnea, while the relative contraction was similar (women: 21% ± 17% versus men: 23% ± 13%, p = 0.528). In addition, the lowest SpO2 during the maximal apnea was similar between sexes (women: 93.3% ± 4.4%; men: 91.9% ± 4.3%, p = 0.161). We conclude that men have larger spleen size and contraction, lung size, and maximal apneic duration than women. The cardiovascular diving response is similar between sexes for those inexperienced with apneic diving. The longer breath-hold duration in men may be partly due to greater oxygen storage capacity, which results from larger vital capacity and greater spleen size and contraction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1515232/fullapneadiving responsefreedivinghypoxiasex differencessplenic contraction
spellingShingle Frank Pernett
Erika Schagatay
Erika Schagatay
Pontus Holmström
Pontus Holmström
Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
Frontiers in Physiology
apnea
diving response
freediving
hypoxia
sex differences
splenic contraction
title Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
title_full Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
title_fullStr Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
title_full_unstemmed Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
title_short Sex-based variations in breath-holding: oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
title_sort sex based variations in breath holding oxygen storage and diving response among non divers
topic apnea
diving response
freediving
hypoxia
sex differences
splenic contraction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1515232/full
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AT erikaschagatay sexbasedvariationsinbreathholdingoxygenstorageanddivingresponseamongnondivers
AT pontusholmstrom sexbasedvariationsinbreathholdingoxygenstorageanddivingresponseamongnondivers
AT pontusholmstrom sexbasedvariationsinbreathholdingoxygenstorageanddivingresponseamongnondivers