Declassified Soviet research on body oxygenation

In the 1960s, before the first Soviet manned spaceship missions it was crucial for Soviets to find the optimum air parameters and investigate the relationships between air compositions and breathing, body oxygenation, symptoms, and health. This confidential project was organized and funded by the Soviet Ministry of Aviation and Space Research in Novosibirsk. A young aspiring PhD Konstantin Buteyko, MD, an Honour Graduate of the 1-st Moscow Medical Institute was selected as a manager of the respiratory laboratory to lead this physiological project in Novosibirsk (Academgorodok). He was provided with the most advanced equipment, best available personnel and all other resources. Natural Insert

Doctor Buteyko studied breathing 24/7 measuring over 30 fundamental physiological parameters of the body in real time (see the picture if you follow the link below), literally with each breath. He came with many startling conclusions related to breathing and body oxygenation. He found that virtually all sick people (asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.) have heavy (deep and frequent) respiratory pattern breathing 2-4 times more air 24/7. Indeed, western medical research have also revealed that sick people hyperventilate (see this Table with 34 medical studies). However, this heavy and deep breathing pattern reduces oxygenation of the body and produces many other negative physiological effects. Dr. Buteyko concluded,

“Therefore, during deep breathing carbon dioxide becomes smaller, oxygen smaller, breath holding time smaller, breathing frequency higher, and automatic pause is absent” (Dr. Buteyko KP, Public lecture in the Moscow State University on 9 December 1969 [in Russian], published in the Soviet national journal “Nauka i zhizn'” (Science and life), Moscow, issue 10, October 1977. )

He also investigated influence of numerous lifestyle and environmental factors on breathing and oxygenation. Many of his observations are confirmed by hundreds of separate western studies, but Buteyko was able to put al ideas together, as a science which describes the role of breathing in control and modulation of the cardiovascular, immune, nervous, and digestive systems of the body.

Buteyko also discovered that it is easy to measure body oxygenation using a simple test. He stated, “Oxygen content in the organism can be found using a simple method: after exhalation, observe, how long the person can pause their breath without stress.” (Buteyko, ibid.) How to do the oxygenation test?

After your usual exhalation, stop breathing, pinch your nose and count your stress-free BHT (breath holding time) in seconds. Keep nose pinched until you experience the first stress or desire to breathe. Practice shows that this first discomfort 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 moment of 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. This is the most typical mistake. The oxygenation test does not interfere with your usual breathing. The test should be easy and not cause you any stress.

Soviet doctors found that the following relationships generally hold true:1-10 s of oxygen – critically and terminally ill patients, severely sick, usually hospitalized.10-20 s – most patients with mild forms of diseases, numerous complaints and, often, on daily medication.20-40 s – people with poor health, but often without serious organic problems.40-60 s – good health.Over 60 s – perfect health, when many modern diseases are virtually impossible.