As a medical professional with expertise in respiratory health, I can tell you that the length of time a person can go without breathing before experiencing irreversible brain damage or death varies significantly from person to person. Several factors can influence this, including an individual's health, fitness level, age, and the conditions under which they are not breathing.

In general, without oxygen, brain cells begin to die after about 4 to 6 minutes, which can lead to severe and irreversible damage. However, this is a general guideline and not a strict rule. Some individuals, particularly those with certain medical conditions or who have undergone specific training, might survive longer periods without oxygen.

It's important to note that the body has a natural response to a lack of oxygen called hypoxia, which can lead to unconsciousness and eventually death if oxygen deprivation continues. Drowning, strangulation, or other forms of asphyxiation can quickly lead to a lack of oxygen and are life-threatening situations.

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The brain can survive for up to about six minutes after the heart stops. The reason to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is that if CPR is started within six minutes of cardiac arrest, the brain may survive the lack of oxygen. After about six minutes without CPR, however, the brain begins to die.read more >>