is there anyway you can slow down your heartbeat?

white devil · 05-09-2006, 09:47 PM

is there anyway you can slow down your heartbeat?we've all been through it..being extremely nervous/affraid/paralised..it is so uncomfortable to face a tough situation and be restricted by our own body/mind...It is very very akward

have you ever felt like your heart is going to explode?Breathing in slowly with the nose and breathing out through the mouth works o.k but it takes so much time to calm down...

any tips?

Mike Brewer · 06-05-2006, 01:20 PM

Cold water on your face will do it almost immediately due to what they call the mammalian dive response. it tricks your body into thinking you're about to drown, and it slows the heartrate down to allow you more efficient use of oxygen. Another good trick is alternate nostril breathing. It feels silly, but try it. It works. Hold one nostril closed and breathe in through the other one. Then pinch that one closed and breathe out through the one that was closed on the inhale. It works a lot faster than the in through the nose and out through the mouth method. Finally, I learned one when I was fighting that I still use for boxers in the ring today. Breathe in deep - to the point it's almost painful. Suck in as much air as you can, and then inhale in short little high-pressure gulps until you feel like the air is going to leak out on its own. Push it way down into your belly, hold it for a three or four count, and then push it out hard from your abdomen. This works pretty well, and it also triggers a little adrenaline which will help you get going again if you're fatigued. Also, you might want to explore some methods unique to you. Find your pulse, either on your wrist or your neck. Get the ryhthm, and then breathe in deeply and hold it. Almost everyone's pulse slows pretty dramatically when they hold their breath (see also, mammalian dive respose). It will pick up pretty fast when you breathe out again, but if you do several inhale-and-hold repetitions, you can effectively bring down both your heart rate and your blood pressure within a minute or so. That's a long-range shooting trick, but it works equally well for fighters.

P.S.
If you're talking about ways to calm down when a bad situation gives you the shakes, one of the very best answers is prior thought. Training to develop a mindset that will allow you to clearly see a situation for what it is (instead of the normal reaction of freezing up and hoping it works out on its own) will allow you to be more decisive in your actions. Decisiveness is always a good answer to fear. I spend a lot of time "what-iffing" situations like that. I draw my own "lines in the sand" so to speak regarding everyday situations, and I make it okay to act anytime one of those lines is crossed. It's like a mental rehearsal. You say to yourself, "If this happens, I'm going to act in this way." You justify it ahead of time, and then you don't have the emotional turmoil and confusion that comes with the unknown. It helps me, at any rate.

cbortelny · 06-25-2006, 01:50 PM

I've read of hunters lowering their heart beat through breathing right before taking a shot to steady their hand. Try deep slow breaths

7r14ngL3Ch0k3 · 06-25-2006, 02:08 PM

Breath in through your nose and out your mouth....and dont be afraid.

kukri · 06-25-2006, 02:10 PM

Breathing Can Slow Down Your Heart Rate...yes ...thats Why Martial Artist Practice Breathing And Yoga...because The Mind And Breath Are One...one Needs Consistancy In Traing For This As Well...

kukri · 06-25-2006, 02:11 PM

also gives you the capacity and stength to win