From: "Ian Lloyd" <ianlloyd@perth.igs.net>
To: "balloon twisters" <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: my lungs, mouth blowing and helium
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 09:39:50 -0500

This touches on a couple of regular subjects so please bear with me.

    I have always wanted to mouth blow, not on a regular basis but so I
could spontaneously produce balloons without carrying a pump. I tried
several of the techniques listed with limited success. I did have the most
success with the "quick inflate" method but still was able to do only one
balloon before feeling faint. I am asthmatic , but several twisters had said
they were also, or that mouth blowing improved their lungs. I live
reasonably comfortably without using medication.

    About a month ago I had my (not very regular) physical and requested
that I get a pulmonary function test. One of the standard tests involves
taking a deep breath in, holding one second, and exhaliing as rapidly and
completely as possible. Surprise! I was able to exhale only about 40% of my
lung capacity in 2 seconds. The standard (base line) before medication
should be about 80%. If you can't exhale completlely you can't replace with
fresh air. This was why, even if I inflated a balloon, I felt faint.
    The second test involved breathing air and monitoring my uptake of
oxygen. a simple explanation would be breathing in, for about 5 minutes,
from a balloon or plastic bag which has a carefully controlled mix of gases
in it. This is all computerised of course and after the test I asked what
the different graphs were. One was O2 and one was CO2 but I didn't recognize
the third. The respirologist said it was Helium(!) BECAUSE THE BODY TAKES IT
UP FASTER THAN OXYGEN. The mix of helium was 0.03%. This took place before
the discussion on this list so I didn't ask any more questions but I will
when I go for followup.
    Anyway, I am now on medication to increase my lung function, am able to
mouth blow 5-6 pastels or 1/4 metallic before feeling faint. Perhaps now I
will be even more profound and erudite in my posts as my brain gets a better
supply of oxygen!

Ian (who mouth breathes often, Mark!) Lloyd

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