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How does CO2 effect our Nervous system?
CO₂ Controls pH — and pH Controls the Brain
- When you hold your breath or breathe slowly → CO₂ rises, pH drops (more acidic)
- When you over-breathe or do power breathing → CO₂ drops, pH rises (more alkaline)
This shift in pH directly affects ASIC1, a brain channel sensitive to acidity, especially in the amygdala, which regulates fear, emotion, and threat detection.
⚠️WHY CO2 STATUS MATTERS IN CHOOSING BREATH WORK
LOW CO2 ( EtCO2 < 35mmHg )
If Someone Has Low CO₂ (from chronic over breathing or stress):
🔴 What’s Already Happening
- Nervous system is alkaline
- ASIC1 is likely inactive → Emotional unresponsiveness to threats, numbness, depression, freeze.
❌ Avoid
Power breathing or hyperventilation (lowers CO₂ even more) such as WIM HOFF or "TUMMO STYLE" breath work.
✅ Recommended
Gentle nasal breathing, breath holds after exhale
HIGH CO2 ( EtCO2 > 45mmHg )
If someone has High CO₂ (e.g. Tense, Holds breath, naturally low breathing rate)
🔵 What’s Already Happening
-Nervous system is already acidic
- ASIC1 may be very active→ Extreme Hyper-vigilance, chronic fight or flight, hyperarousal.
❌ Avoid
-Excessive long breath holds (can overstimulate ASIC1)→ Risk of anxiety, mood swings, excess fight or flight, emotional flooding, fatigue, trouble sleeping.
✅ Recommended
Add in recovery diaphragmatic breathing, or light power breathing (WIM HOFF) sessions
panic attacks - What is Air hunger?
“When people hyperventilate, there is something very strange happening. In essence they are taking in too much air, but the sensation that they get is shortness of breath, choking air, air hunger, as if they are not getting enough air. It’s almost like a biological system error. To take a deep breath is just the opposite of what a struggling breather should do."
- Dr. Alicia Meuret
Dr. Meuret holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard and Boston University. She currently serves as the 2025 Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. A former president of both ISARP and the Anxiety Disorders Special Interest Group of ABCT, Dr. Meuret is also the founder of Capnometry-Assisted Respiratory Training (CART).