Is it possible for a person to become temporarily anaerobic?

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UnknownAssassin Dec 7, 2012

I remember watching on the History Channel on I believe Stanley Super Humans or a different show and it showed a guy that could dive without a mask for quite a depth. They did a pool test for like 5-8 minutes before they lifted him out of the pool. His oxygen levels were normal and expected of how a person should react when under water for periods of time but then his oxygen usage stabilized showing anaerobic quality of oxygen usage. They said he was one of a few cases of people known to do this. Is this actually possible to become temporarily anaerobic?
‡ɲȠɨɭ₫lȳɪɲșɋῆϵ‡ Dec 7, 2012

From reading what you just wrote, sounds possible but it must require a lot of training?
SeñoritaMafioso Dec 7, 2012

Well anaerobic respiration doesn't use oxygen at all, so 'anaerobic quality of oxygen use' alludes he would have stopped using oxygen. Our muscles can respire anaerobically when you don't get enough oxygen, a product of that is lactic acid, which is what causes our muscles to feel sore after working out. I wonder if he was just able to slow his heart rate to preserve his oxygen supply, which could enact the lactic acid cycle in his muscles while allowing himself to spare oxygen for his brain and such...
adambomb Dec 7, 2012

I saw the same episode. I thought the one over the marathon man was cool, how lactic acid didn't build up in his muscles.