| Appearance, development and metastasis of tumours | | | | for every mm Hg decrease in CO2 pressure. When |
| are based on tissue hypoxia. They are cries of the | | | | people have 20 mmHg CO2 in their blood (half of the |
| organism for more oxygen. Is it possible that our | | | | official norm), they have about 40% less blood |
| abnormal breathing can influence the internal breathing | | | | supply to the brain in comparison with normal |
| (gas exchange) and oxygenation of all body cells, | | | | conditions. |
| tumours included? How? | | | | Since hyperventilation is an important part of our |
| Normal breathing is light, easy, invisible (no chest or | | | | "fight-or-flight" response, during hyperventilation the |
| belly movements) and inaudible (no panting, no | | | | blood is generally diverted from vital organs to large |
| wheezing, no sighing, no yawning, no sneezing, no | | | | skeletal muscles. Studies found decreased perfusion |
| coughing, no deep inhalations or exhalations). The | | | | of the heart (Okazaki et al, 1991), brain (discussed |
| mouth is closed. | | | | above), liver (Hughes et al, 1979; Okazaki, 1989), |
| How to measure oxygenation? | | | | kidneys (Okazaki, 1989), and colon (Gilmour et al, |
| Use the breath-holding time test. Sit down and rest | | | | 1980). Typically, the blood flow to vital organs is |
| for 5-7 minutes. Completely relax all your muscles, | | | | directly proportional to arterial CO2 values. |
| including the breathing muscles. This relaxation | | | | Studies on oxygenation of various tissues during |
| produces natural spontaneous exhalation (breathing | | | | hyperventilation |
| out). Hold your nose at the end of this exhalation and | | | | Other western studies confirmed that |
| count your BHT (breath holding time) or CP (control | | | | hyperventilation compromises oxygenation of vital |
| pause) in seconds. Keep the nose pinched until you | | | | organs, like liver and kidneys (Hughes et al, 1979; |
| experience the first desire to breathe. This desire is | | | | Okazaki et al, 1989), and heart (Okazaki et al, 1991) |
| involuntary and manifested either in swallowing | | | | (e.g., Hughes et al, 1979; Hashimoto et al, 1989; |
| movements in the throat or in the push of the | | | | Okazaki et al, 1991). |
| diaphragm. (Your body warns you, "Enough!"). If you | | | | What is the possible chain of events for cancer |
| release the fingers at this instant, you can resume | | | | development? |
| your previous breathing (in the same way as you | | | | Here is a scientific hypothesis for further |
| were breathing just before you started to hold your | | | | investigation. Chronic hyperventilation washes out |
| breath). | | | | CO2 from each cell of the human organism. Since |
| It is possible to extend the breath holding even | | | | CO2 is a dilator of small blood vessels, low CO2 |
| more, getting about twice long a time than the CP. | | | | concentrations lead to the constrictions of arterioles |
| This is called the maximum pause. However, | | | | causing problems with blood and oxygen delivery. In |
| afterwards, your breathing would be out of control. | | | | addition, low CO2 values cause inability of red blood |
| You are likely to gulp for air through your mouth | | | | cells to efficiently release whatever little oxygen they |
| taking several deep inhalations. This makes your | | | | bring (the suppressed Bohr effect). The final |
| subsequent breathing heavier and worse. Extended | | | | outcome is hypoxia in the tissues, including vital |
| breath holds can even cause certain health problems. | | | | organs. Since all vital organs are going to suffer from |
| Sick people breathe about 2-4 times more air than | | | | hypoxia, malignant cells can thrive in tissues and parts |
| the medical norm, but they have short breath holding | | | | of the body which are most compromised (the |
| time or CP. What do we see? The more you | | | | genetic component of cancer). Excessive toxic load |
| breathe, the shorter the CP and less oxygen is | | | | due to smoking, dietary toxins and poisons, radiation, |
| provided for the cells! | | | | and other causes, can intensify hypoxic effects in |
| When we breathe heavier, we loose more CO2. | | | | certain parts of organs of the organism (the |
| There are two direct CO2 effects: - The Bohr | | | | environmental component of cancer). Further growth |
| effect; - Vasodilation-vasoconstriction effect. | | | | of the tumour and its metastasis are also controlled |
| What is the Bohr effect? As we know, oxygen is | | | | by the same factors, where tissue hypoxia plays the |
| transported in blood by hemoglobin cells. How do | | | | central role. |
| these red blood cells know where to release more | | | | It would not be a surprise that cancer patients |
| oxygen and where less is needed? Or why do they | | | | breathe about 2-4 times more air than the medical |
| unload more oxygen in those places where it is more | | | | norm. As a result their tissue oxygenation is below |
| required? The hemoglobin cells sense higher | | | | the norm, while the breath holding time is short. |
| concentrations of CO2 (end product of energy | | | | Professional studies of Russian doctors revealed that |
| production) and release oxygen in such places. The | | | | when the breathing holding time or the CP is below |
| effect strongly depends on the absolute CO2 values | | | | 20 s, even for some minutes or hours, the Krebb |
| in the blood and the lungs. | | | | cycle (also called citric acid cycle) is reversed and |
| If CO2 concentration is low, O2 cells are stuck to the | | | | tissue hypoxia, anaerobic metabolism, and fatigue are |
| red blood cells. Hence, CO2 deficiency leads to | | | | the immediate results. The practice of Russian |
| hypoxia or low oxygenation of the body cells (the | | | | doctors, as well as western breathing teachers, show |
| suppressed Bohr effect). The more we breathe at | | | | that most people have their shortest breath holding |
| rest, the less the oxygenation of our cells in vital | | | | times during early morning hours (usually 4-7 a.m.). |
| organs, like brain, heart, liver, kidneys, etc. | | | | Hence, if a person's CP drops below 20 s, cancer |
| Hemoglobin cells in normal blood are about 98-99% | | | | progresses and the tumour grows. |
| saturated with O2. When we hyperventilate this | | | | References for part 2 |
| number is slightly larger, but without CO2, this | | | | Gilmour DG, Douglas IH, Aitkenhead AR, Hothersall |
| oxygen is tightly bound with red blood cells and | | | | AP, Horton PW, Ledingham IM, Colon blood flow in |
| cannot get unloaded into the tissues. Hence, now we | | | | the dog: effects of changes in arterial carbon dioxide |
| know one of the causes why heavy breathing | | | | tension, Cardiovasc Res 1980 Jan; 14(1): 11-20. |
| reduces tissue oxygenation of all vital organs. | | | | Hashimoto K, Okazaki K, Okutsu Y, The effects of |
| Vasodilation-vasoconstriction effect | | | | hypocapnia and hypercapnia on tissue surface PO2 in |
| CO2 is a dilator of blood vessels (arteries and | | | | hemorrhaged dogs [Article in Japanese], Masui 1989 |
| arterioles). Arteries and arterioles have their own tiny | | | | Oct; 38(10): 1271-1274. |
| muscles that can constrict or dilate depending on | | | | Hughes RL, Mathie RT, Fitch W, Campbell D, Liver |
| CO2 concentrations. | | | | blood flow and oxygen consumption during |
| When the CO2 level is low, total resistance becomes | | | | hypocapnia and IPPV in the greyhound, J Appl Physiol. |
| greater and vital organs (like the brain, heart, kidneys, | | | | 1979 Aug; 47(2): 290-295. |
| liver, stomach, spleen, colon, etc.) get less blood due | | | | Litchfield PM, A brief overview of the chemistry of |
| to the constriction of small blood vessels. As | | | | respiration and the breathing heart wave, California |
| physiological studies found, blood flow to these | | | | Biofeedback, 2003 Spring, 19(1). |
| organs is proportional to blood CO2 concentrations. | | | | McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL, Essentials of |
| According to the Handbook of Physiology (Santiago | | | | exercise physiology (2-nd edition); Lippincott, Williams |
| & Edelman, 1986), cerebral blood flow decreases 2% | | | | and Wilkins, London 2000. |