Cerebral hypoxia

[Billythekiddo]

I was walking home and I ran across the street causing me to become short of breath. While walking behind a car I chose not to inhale but further exhale my breath, to the point where I felt I had completely discharged my oxygen. Now I am having a headache and obsessive thought that exhaling so deeply could've caused brain damage, even in the slightest bit, by depriving my brain of oxygen. Is this even possible? Or does breathing have to completely fail for this to happen?

[Billythekiddo]

Thank you.

I have extreme hypochondria, and later realized I was fine.

But I appreciate your response.

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

Definitely no, you are not in any danger of brain damage, not “even in the slightest bit.”  You would have to go without breathing for a significantly longer time for symptoms of brain oxygen deprivation to occur, such as holding your breath for some minutes while swimming underwater.  If however you were to bear down, raising the pressure in your chest, while holding your breath that could lead to fainting, but not to brain damage.

Good luck