Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

You can kill yourself by holding your breath.

  1. True

  2. False

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

You cannot voluntarily kill yourself by holding your breath because of the body's autonomic breathing reflex. Before oxygen deprivation becomes fatal, you will lose consciousness. Once unconscious, your brainstem's respiratory centers automatically take over and restart breathing. This is a protective survival mechanism that prevents death from voluntary breath-holding. While people have passed out from holding their breath too long, they resume breathing when unconscious and survive.