How to Measure and Increase Whole Body and Brain Oxygen Content

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- Updated on September 1, 2023

Proofread by Samson Hui Proofreader on July **, 2019

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How to Measure and Increase Whole Body and Brain Oxygen Content 1By Dr. Artour Rakhimov, Alternative Health Educator and Author


- Medically Reviewed by Naziliya Rakhimova, MD

The total brain oxygen content

If we look at this graph showing brain oxygen levels in one cross-section, we can notice that oxygen distribution is very inhomogeneous. The most oxygenated area is around the hypothalamus, which is also the most ancient or primitive brain present even in the simplest creatures like worms. The hypothalamus is responsible for primitive reflexes and bodily reactions, and it is generally the most active area of the whole brain. Since nerve activity requires more O2, nature provided the hypothalamus with a rich network of arteries to provide more blood (and oxygen). In this video, Dr. Artour Rakhimov explains autoregulation and other causes that make it very difficult to measure the total oxygen content in the brain and the whole body.

How to Measure and Increase Whole Body and Brain Oxygen Content 2

Depending on the situation and state of the human body, certain areas of the brain, similar to the hypothalamus, can be more or less active requiring different oxygen supplies, and that explains why this graph shows inhomogeneous oxygen distribution for normal breathing and hyperventilation, which is present in over 90% of modern people.

Breathing changes during last 80 years

In addition, on a cell level, oxygen distribution among neighboring cells can also vary widely. Those cells that are adjacent to capillaries can have high O2 pressure (up to 4-5% or around 30-38 mm Hg). But more distant cells (cells can be located as far away as 3-4 cells away from the nearest blood vessel) can have only 1% or about 7.6 mm Hg for O2 partial pressure. Therefore, it is very difficult to measure the total brain oxygen content using direct methods. Even if we make thousands of similar PET scans, and then define average oxygenation for each cross-section and then the average content for the whole brain, there is a large factor related to this cellular oxygen distribution effect.

Total oxygen content in the body

The situation with one’s total body-oxygen content is even more complex. Blood flow to different organs is greatly influenced by the autoregulation effect that can change the perfusion of certain organs up to 3-4 times. Autoregulation takes place due to various bodily processes, such as digestion, sleep, exercise, adaptation to temperature changes, emotions, local and global infections, local inflammation, and many others. Therefore, the total picture is very complex and, from a purely technical viewpoint, one’s total body-oxygen content is exceptionally difficult and expensive to measure.

A simple DIY test to measure whole body and total brain oxygen content

Brain Oxygen ContentIn the 1960s, Dr. Buteyko had devices to measure body-oxygen levels and test people for low brain oxygen. He knew about the effects described above when he worked as the Manager of the Laboratory of the Functional Diagnostic in Novosibirsk (see the photo of his Laboratory from the 1960s on the right) for the first Soviet Spaceship Missions. He was also interested in finding total body-O2 content. After years of research, 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” Dr. K. P.Buteyko, “Dr. Buteyko lecture in the Moscow State University on 9 December 1969”

This observation makes sense since, in spite of autoregulation and inhomogeneous O2 distribution, CO2 is the main factor that controls oxygen delivery and blood flow in a dose-dependent manner. For example, numerous studies proved that blood flow to various organs is linearly proportional to the arterial CO2 level. Furthermore, the clinical observations of over 180 Soviet and Russian physicians suggest that this test is simple and exceptionally valuable in order to define the current physiological state of the person, their symptoms, and requirements in medication. For only a small portion of people (about 1% or less in ordinary people and slightly more in the sick), this simple body-oxygen test is not an accurate measure for their health.

How to increase brain oxygen?

This website explains how to increase one’s brain oxygen content by breathing normalization (or learning how to breathe in accordance with medical norms). One needs to address numerous lifestyle factors related to sleep, exercise, diet, stress, and much more. See the Learning Section of this site for all details or start with the educational YouTube video list. For more information about normal numbers, numbers in sick people, and the exact details of this test to measure brain and body and brain O2 content, visit the page “DIY body-oxygen test“.

Related pages:
Cell oxygen levels and brain oxygenation depend mainly on your breathing
Oxygen extraction in the lungs is linked with breathing patters: breathing slower and less increases oxygen retention rate in the body
Ideal breathing pattern for maximum brain oxygenation: respiratory rate for automatic breathing that provides super health
Oxygen and CO2 transport from air to cells and effects of low CO2 (overbreathing) on oxygen delivery
Cerebral hypoxia is usually caused by hyperventilation and low CO2 levels in the lungs
Oxygen bars and why pure oxygen is toxic.

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Below are authentic comments, questions, and testimonials from the same page on the old PHP site before we converted it to WordPress.

On 2017-06-09T15:38:16, Dr. Artour (mod) wrote:
The mistake was corrected. Thank you, Renee.
I do not do any “affiliate advertising” since the site is managed by Ezoic.com who takes care of display and all ads.

On 2017-06-09T12:45:38, Renee Evans wrote:
I know you’re very busy and I hope you don’t mind that I am giving you the information in the comment area, as it relates to the page that may need a correction, I thought it may be easier for you to find the area I’m making reference to.
Above, under the paragraph title: Total Oxygen Content in the Body, the first sentence may need the wording corrected. “The situation with total one’s body-oxygen content is even more complex. ” may need to switch the words “one’s & total”. rle.trade@gmail.com

On 2017-06-09T12:27:06, Renee Evans wrote:
At the top of this page, there are warnings to indicate you have a few items on this page that are not “coded correctly”. Just bringing this to your attention. Thank you for your new website, I love the fact that you have eliminated most of your ads and you have concentrated on your wonderful work.

May I make one other suggestion? If you were to use “affiliate advertising” from specific affiliates that were NOT in competition with you or who complimented your work, you could place their “affiliate logo” with the “logo coded as a link to their page”, neatly along with the side columns, so as to not interfere or distract us while reading your content, that too would allow you extra income. Selectively choose and just contact companies directly to become affiliated marketers for them. If you should have any questions, feel free to contact me. Renee Evans rle.trade@gmail.com

On 2014-07-09T11:46:37, Artour Rakhimov (mod) wrote:
It is about the same: try and see it yourself.

On 2014-07-08T19:50:09, Greg wrote:
I have read one of your books and now I have a very specific question. In the book, you write about the amount of Buteyko Breathing Exercises you can safely do without getting overtrained. I suffer from a moderate/severe degree of CFS. In my case with severe exhaustion and low CP, do I have much lower limits to become overtrained by Breathing Exercises?