We're about to hit you with some science, are you ready?? The body needs oxygen in order to survive. Whenever a person inhales, oxygen is taken into the lungs where it is picked up by the hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries the oxygen around the body where it is released for use by the body's cells. The cells use the oxygen in their energy reactions subsequently producing a by-product of carbon dioxide (CO2) which is, in turn, released back to the blood, transported to the lungs, and exhaled. ( There will NOT be a quiz on this later! ) Efficient control of the body's energy reaction depends on the maintenance of a specific balance between oxygen and CO2. This balance can be maintained chiefly through an appropriate rate and depth of breathing. Obviously, breathing "too much" will have the effect of increasing levels of oxygen (int he blood only) and decreasing levels of CO2, which b...
