We have always paired breathing with life. All our lives we talk about breathing as the truest and surest form of living and strength. We constantly compare things we need to what our body really needs: oxygen. Our body can do so many things. It can withstand many kinds of stress and trauma, it can also survive being under nourished, but if there's one thing our body can't do, it is this. It is not capable of losing a single breath.

Have you ever wondered why the air around us is so important in our existence? And how long do you think can we go before our entire body shuts down? I know you're all wondering about those unbelievable, even miraculous moments when certain individuals seemed perfectly okay and survived longer periods without air.

So let's look at the most vital systems in our body and what can happen when the breath, we most certainly need, is lost.

Aside from air, we consider blood to be the most vital liquid our body has. But did you know that the reason it is so important is because of its capacity to transport oxygen? Since humans are aerobic creatures, we need oxygen to have energy and to be able to exist. Without oxygen, our cells won't be able to give off oxygen to the food we eat, and we would die.

Oxygen enters our body through the process called respiration. It is the ability to move air in and out of the lungs, and since blood is known as the transporter of oxygen, its primary job is to deliver oxygen to the cells of the body. Also using the same process, our body gives off carbon dioxide which is known as a waste product of our body. Commonly known as breathing, respiration is usually a very unconscious activity. The brainstem is the one who regulates it, along with other things like our heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.

Although we normally don't have to think about remembering to breathe, it is still possible for us to control the rate we breathe. This is usually done to relax, to enhance running capacity, or to just for the sake of knowing how long we can hold our breath.

However, it is a dangerous side to be in, and not to mention a difficult one to even just think about. There are people whose success depends on their ability to hold their breath, there are also situations where holding your breath is extremely necessary. The amount of time it will take before permanent damage sets in is still not clear, but there are already cases where researchers assessed some factors to consider before a fun sport turns into a complete emergency.