A very interesting aspect of PH

[Sadsack]

An Acidic Brain Leads to Panic; A Deep Breath Can Fix That | 80beats | Discover Magazine

An Acidic Brain Leads to Panic; A Deep Breath Can Fix That





When people breathe in carbon dioxide, they start to panic. It happens in mice and other animals, too, as the body responds to the threat of suffocation. Now, in a study in Cell, researchers have connected a particular gene to that response in the brain.
The gene, called ASIC1a, is connected to a protein found in abundance in the amygdala, the area scientists believe to be the brain’s fear center. In their new study … the researchers show that mice lacking this gene don’t freeze in place–a commonly used indicator of rodent fear–to the extent that normal mice do when the team pumped CO2 into their enclosure. But when Wemmie and colleagues injected a virus containing the ASIC1a gene into the amygdala of the mice, they acted like normal mice, freezing up when exposed to elevated CO2 [ScienceNOW Daily News].
In other experiments, the team found that the amygdala becomes more acidic with CO2 exposure, and that this change in pH causes an electrical current in amygdala neurons of mice—unless those mice lacked the ASIC1a gene. “The amygdala has been thought of as part of the fear circuitry of the brain,” said researcher John Wemmie…. “Now we see it isn’t just part of a circuit, it is also a sensor” [LiveScience].
The same kinds of pathways could be responsible for panic responses in people, and so Wemmie’s work could prove invaluable to those trying to treat anxiety in humans. But, he says, the study suggests that the old-fashioned wisdom to take a few deep breaths has scientific validity. “Brain pH is very sensitive to breathing — if one breathes deeper for a time in a controlled way, one can actually reduce acidity” [LiveScience], and thus perhaps quiet the clanging of alarm bells in the amygdala.

SS

[sarothra]

Originally Posted by Sadsack

An Acidic Brain Leads to Panic; A Deep Breath Can Fix That | 80beats | Discover Magazine

An Acidic Brain Leads to Panic; A Deep Breath Can Fix That





When people breathe in carbon dioxide, they start to panic. It happens in mice and other animals, too, as the body responds to the threat of suffocation. Now, in a study in Cell, researchers have connected a particular gene to that response in the brain.
The gene, called ASIC1a, is connected to a protein found in abundance in the amygdala, the area scientists believe to be the brain’s fear center. In their new study … the researchers show that mice lacking this gene don’t freeze in place–a commonly used indicator of rodent fear–to the extent that normal mice do when the team pumped CO2 into their enclosure. But when Wemmie and colleagues injected a virus containing the ASIC1a gene into the amygdala of the mice, they acted like normal mice, freezing up when exposed to elevated CO2 [ScienceNOW Daily News].
In other experiments, the team found that the amygdala becomes more acidic with CO2 exposure, and that this change in pH causes an electrical current in amygdala neurons of mice—unless those mice lacked the ASIC1a gene. “The amygdala has been thought of as part of the fear circuitry of the brain,” said researcher John Wemmie…. “Now we see it isn’t just part of a circuit, it is also a sensor” [LiveScience].
The same kinds of pathways could be responsible for panic responses in people, and so Wemmie’s work could prove invaluable to those trying to treat anxiety in humans. But, he says, the study suggests that the old-fashioned wisdom to take a few deep breaths has scientific validity. “Brain pH is very sensitive to breathing — if one breathes deeper for a time in a controlled way, one can actually reduce acidity” [LiveScience], and thus perhaps quiet the clanging of alarm bells in the amygdala.

SS

As someone with a history of panic attacks, I find this CO2/panic connection valid, especially in light of increased CO2 from carbon emissions. A lot of people have panic/anxiety when in enclosed places, something I once attributed to the "closed in" feeling, when, in actuality it could very well be that in a crowded elevator, for example, CO2 levels are very high and will trigger anxiety as a means of avoiding oxygen deprivation (in terms of fight or flight - the need the leave the elevator).

I keep lots of houseplants as they can increase the levels of oxygen in the home and help ease anxiety. Of course, slowing one's breathing and taking deep breaths helps, too, but is sometimes difficult to achieve when in the grips of panic.

Thanks for the interesting topic.

sar

[Sadsack]

You're welcome, Sar -

The article doesn't go into it, but blood PH is largely controlled by the lungs (i.e., oxygen/carbon balance). So deep breathing can also rectify PH imbalances. Of course, hyper ventilating will make someone pass out due to too great a reduction in carbon compounds in the blood.

Remember the old trick of breathing into a paperbag if someone is hyperventilating? That is to increase the carbon and lower the PH, because too alkaline is just as dangerous as not alkaline enough. Course, most of us are not alkaline enough.

Oh - yeah - anyone ever do this as a kid? You hyperventilate for a bit, then hold your lungs filled with air and someone wraps their arms around you and squeezes over your lungs, then you pass out. Again, that's because of forcibly altering PH balance.

Anyway, "Calm down, take a few deep breaths" is good advice when panicky. It will also lower your blood pressure (try taking it before and and after deep breaths).

SS

SS

[Kritters]

Originally Posted by Sadsack

You're welcome, Sar -

The article doesn't go into it, but blood PH is largely controlled by the lungs (i.e., oxygen/carbon balance). So deep breathing can also rectify PH imbalances. Of course, hyper ventilating will make someone pass out due to too great a reduction in carbon compounds in the blood.

Remember the old trick of breathing into a paperbag if someone is hyperventilating? That is to increase the carbon and lower the PH, because too alkaline is just as dangerous as not alkaline enough. Course, most of us are not alkaline enough.

Oh - yeah - anyone ever do this as a kid? You hyperventilate for a bit, then hold your lungs filled with air and someone wraps their arms around you and squeezes over your lungs, then you pass out. Again, that's because of forcibly altering PH balance.

Anyway, "Calm down, take a few deep breaths" is good advice when panicky. It will also lower your blood pressure (try taking it before and and after deep breaths).

SS

SS

Hey Sackster!

Great timing! Yesterday I was having major anxiety/panic attacks and thought because I had run out of zinc and hadn't taken my B's for a few days. (prolly true also). Since reading your article, I've been taking the deep breaths. Interesting, isn't it, that it's such an important aspect of Yoga? makes sense.

Yeah....I was one of the dookey kids who did that passing out thing. I can just imagine my mother home baking pies for her little love while the little love is out passing out for fun

Kritts

p.s. And by the way....when I have a certain type of palpatation (heart) I take a slow, deep breath and hold and let out slowly and sometimes it nips it in the bud. (since I stopped the soup with the msg I haven't had them, though ;-)

[Sadsack]

Hey, Krittster!

I realized when you said that - about altering your breathing when you have palpitations - that I do that, too. I'd forgotten that till you mentioned it.

Yeah - it is interesting that it is such an important part of Yoga!

SS

[jsim1]

Well, at least I'm not alone...It makes me wonder about why there is a green macrophage collected around my air vents. Hmmm...do you think there might be some type of engine that would create an enviroment in your car that do to heat and the afore mentioned panic inducer might exacerbate "CO2 induced anxiety". It also makes one wonder about other things that we "accidentally" inhale. Oh well, I guess I am just thinking out loud.

[Kritters]

Originally Posted by jsim1

Well, at least I'm not alone...It makes me wonder about why there is a green macrophage collected around my air vents. Hmmm...do you think there might be some type of engine that would create an enviroment in your car that do to heat and the afore mentioned panic inducer might exacerbate "CO2 induced anxiety". It also makes one wonder about other things that we "accidentally" inhale. Oh well, I guess I am just thinking out loud.

Keep on thinking out loud, Jsim1 !!!