Does the snorkel have a similar effect to breathing into a paper bag for someone hyperventilating?
Answer Hi Joe, Breathing into the paper bag is to increase CO2 levels, which will slow the breathing of a person hyperventilating. I occasionally snorkel, and there is little restriction in a properly designed unit. A couple of factors are: 1) the size of the opening in the mouthpiece, and 2) the smoothness of the curves of the unit. A snorkel with sharp angles in the design may also potentially affect airflow. Out of curiosity, are you familiar with Amy VanDyken? She is a former Olympic gold medalist (more golds than any other US female in Olympic history)and a severe asthmatic. In high school, she went into full respiratory arrest at a swim meet. Last time I saw her, she was a spokesperson for Glaxo. http://www.amyvandyken.com/ Hope this helped you. I’ve given presentation around the state of Illinois to the educators and coaches of elementary and high school districts, and part of the presentation addresses psychological issues, something that should always be addressed in patients
