Skip breathing can cause which gas buildup during a dive?

Skip breathing can cause which gas buildup during a dive?

• A. Carbon dioxide excess
• B. Oxygen depletion
• C. Nitrogen narcosis
• D. Hydrogen accumulation

Answer: (A)

Holding your breath during a dive causes carbon dioxide to accumulate in the body because metabolism keeps producing CO2 while you’re not expelling air. With ventilation stopped, CO2 isn’t removed efficiently, leading to hypercapnia (CO2 excess), which raises blood acidity and triggers the urge to breathe, potentially impairing judgment or causing blackout if breathing is resumed too late. Oxygen depletion isn’t about a gas building up; it’s about not having enough oxygen for the tissues. Nitrogen narcosis is a pressure-related effect from dissolved nitrogen at depth, not from holding your breath. Hydrogen accumulation isn’t a typical diving concern in this context.

Holding your breath during a dive causes carbon dioxide to accumulate in the body because metabolism keeps producing CO2 while you’re not expelling air. With ventilation stopped, CO2 isn’t removed efficiently, leading to hypercapnia (CO2 excess), which raises blood acidity and triggers the urge to breathe, potentially impairing judgment or causing blackout if breathing is resumed too late.

Oxygen depletion isn’t about a gas building up; it’s about not having enough oxygen for the tissues. Nitrogen narcosis is a pressure-related effect from dissolved nitrogen at depth, not from holding your breath. Hydrogen accumulation isn’t a typical diving concern in this context.