Latest news with #BOLT
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
How to check your lung health at home with the BOLT breathing test: Tips from CMC Vellore doctor
The BOLT test, or Body Oxygen Level Test, is a simple and safe way to check your breathing efficiency at home. This standardized method measures how long you can comfortably hold your breath until the first urge to breathe, providing insight into your body's carbon dioxide tolerance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Unlike simply holding your breath as long as possible, the BOLT test offers a more accurate reflection of respiratory health. Used by athletes and breathing experts, it helps monitor lung function and improve breathing habits. Learning how to perform and interpret the test correctly can guide you toward better breathing and overall wellbeing. What is the BOLT test, and why is it important? The BOLT test measures your ability to hold your breath comfortably after a normal exhale, highlighting your body's tolerance to carbon dioxide (CO₂). This is important because CO₂ levels largely control your breathing drive, not oxygen levels. Efficient breathing maintains a healthy balance between oxygen intake and CO₂ retention, helping reduce symptoms like breathlessness, anxiety, and fatigue. According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, who shared this on X (formerly Twitter), CO₂ levels largely control your breathing drive, not oxygen levels. Efficient breathing maintains a healthy balance between oxygen intake and CO₂ retention, helping reduce symptoms like breathlessness, anxiety, and fatigue. Unlike random breath-holding contests, the BOLT method offers a science-backed, reproducible way to gauge your respiratory health and track improvements over time. How to do the BOLT test correctly: Step-by-step guide Sit comfortably upright and breathe normally for 2–3 minutes; find a relaxed seated position with your back straight but not tense. Breathe quietly through your nose to stabilise your breathing. Take a normal, gentle breath in through your nose. Avoid deep or forced breaths; start from your natural resting breathing state. Exhale normally through your nose. Breathe out gently without forcing a full exhale or emptying your lungs completely. Pinch your nose gently and start timing. Close your nostrils firmly but comfortably using your thumb and index finger. Start a stopwatch immediately. Hold your breath only until the first natural urge to breathe. Stop holding as soon as you feel the initial urge to inhale—don't push to discomfort or gasping. Hold your breath only until the first natural urge to breathe. Stop holding as soon as you feel the initial urge to inhale—don't push to discomfort or gasping. Release your nose and breathe in calmly through your nose. Inhale smoothly without gasping or deep, sudden breaths. Stop the timer and note your BOLT score in seconds. The time you held your breath comfortably before the urge to breathe is your BOLT score. How to interpret your BOLT score for better respiratory health Understanding your BOLT score helps you identify your current breathing efficiency and CO₂ tolerance level: 20 to 30 seconds: This range is typical for most healthy adults and suggests that your breathing patterns and lung function are within a healthy range. More than 40 seconds: Scores above 40 seconds are often found in endurance athletes, yoga practitioners, or individuals who regularly practice controlled breathing techniques. Less than 20 seconds: A score below 20 seconds may indicate suboptimal breathing habits, low physical fitness, or possible respiratory issues. However, temporary factors such as anxiety, stress, or poor sleep can also lower your BOLT score. If your score is consistently low, it may be worthwhile to explore breathing retraining exercises or consult a healthcare professional. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Why is CO₂ tolerance important for your breathing and overall wellness? Many people assume breathing is mainly about oxygen intake, but the actual urge to breathe is triggered by rising CO₂ levels in your blood. When you breathe too fast or shallowly, your CO₂ levels drop too low, which can impair oxygen delivery to your tissues and contribute to symptoms like dizziness, breathlessness, and increased anxiety. Improving your CO₂ tolerance through better breathing habits can enhance oxygen utilisation, calm the nervous system, and improve physical and mental performance. The BOLT test serves as a practical tool to track these improvements over time. Important safety tips to remember before doing the BOLT test Safety should always come first when trying any breath-holding exercise. Keep these guidelines in mind: Never perform the BOLT test while standing, driving, or in water. Always sit down on a stable chair to avoid risks of falling or fainting. If you have heart or lung conditions, consult your doctor before attempting the test. The BOLT test is generally safe but should be avoided or supervised if you have medical concerns. Don't push yourself beyond the first urge to breathe. This test is about comfort and awareness, not maximum breath-holding capacity. Track your BOLT score over weeks, not just once. A low score on a tired or stressful day doesn't mean your lungs are unhealthy. Look for trends over time. Regularly monitoring your BOLT score helps you track your breathing health over time, revealing improvements as you practice better techniques like nasal or diaphragmatic breathing. The BOLT test is a simple, science-backed way to understand your respiratory efficiency and carbon dioxide tolerance. By performing it safely and interpreting your results, you can take meaningful steps toward healthier breathing and overall wellness. Also Read:
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
No more holding the breath: THIS is the method that can actually REVEAL one's respiratory health
The Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT) represents a short scientific assessment, which measures your breathing efficiency together with carbon dioxide (CO₂) tolerance. The test delivers basic but useful information, regarding your breathing status, oxygen utilisation and your capacity to handle carbon dioxide accumulation, which determines your energy levels and stress resilience and focus. What is the Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT) The BOLT test measures how long you can safely maintain breath after exhaling, before feeling compelled to breathe. The standardised test offers an authentic assessment of your breathing efficiency, and CO₂ tolerance beyond random breath-holding attempts. The test requires no specific location, since you can perform it anywhere, and takes approximately a few minutes to complete. The following steps outline the BOLT test procedure: Choose a peaceful location, then sit up straight with proper posture. Normal breathing should occur through your nose while maintaining relaxed breathing patterns. After exhaling normally, you should pinch your nose to stop breathing. Start counting from when you start keeping your breath inside your body. Maintain your breath until the first breathing signal appears which includes throat tickle sensations, chest tightening, or diaphragmatic contractions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Stop the timer immediately upon noticing the urge, and then return to regular breathing patterns. Take note of the total seconds you managed to hold your breath, before starting to breathe normally. Repeat the test two more times, then calculate the average of the three readings to determine your BOLT score. Why does the BOLT score matter The process of holding one's breath following exhalation, causes lung oxygen levels to decrease, while carbon dioxide concentrations increase. Your brain receives the primary signal to initiate breathing, through the buildup of carbon dioxide. The duration of your comfortable breath-holding period, reveals your ventilatory response and CO₂ tolerance. Short breath-holding durations indicate your body reacts strongly to CO₂, which leads to faster breathing with potentially shallow breaths. This condition often connects to stress situations and anxiety together, with dysfunctional breathing patterns. A longer breath-hold time, indicates your body demonstrates high CO₂ tolerance through efficient and well-regulated breathing, which optimises cell oxygen delivery, and promotes overall relaxation. What does your BOLT score mean BOLT scores under 10 seconds show poor CO₂ tolerance along with inadequate breathing efficiency. This can point to stress and anxiety, that can improve through breathwork techniques. The score range from 10 to 20 seconds indicates average respiratory function, together with moderate breath control. However, your breathing control needs development, because stress situations can lead to irregular breathing patterns. The score range between 20 to 40 seconds indicates both effective breathing efficiency, and strong CO₂ tolerance. Your body uses this breathing pattern to maintain stable energy levels while boosting endurance. A breath-holding capacity exceeding 40 seconds, demonstrates top-tier respiratory control together with nervous system optimisation. People who achieve this score, demonstrate superior resilience and maximum performance potential. What advantages does a higher BOLT score provide to users A higher BOLT score indicates improved breathing efficiency, which enables your body to use oxygen more efficiently while tolerating higher CO₂ concentrations. This can lead to: Enhanced energy levels Better stress resilience and calmer nervous system function Improved focus and mental clarity Greater physical endurance and stamina More restful sleep and reduced fatigue The practice of specific breathing exercises that generate a gentle "air hunger" sensation, followed by controlled breath-hold increases BOLT scores during several months of practice. Regular breathing practice breaks the pattern of excessive breathing (excessive breathing beyond physical requirements) which affects stressed or anxious individuals. Sources How to do a BOLT Score Test and what it means, How to Measure Your BOLT Score, Oxygen Advantage Improve Your BOLT Score for Optimal Health, The Breath Coach
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
How long can you hold your breath? CMC Vellore doctor suggests the BOLT method
1. What is the BOLT score? 2. How to do it correctly? — hyderabaddoctor (@hyderabaddoctor) 3. How to interpret your score 4. Safety tips to keep in mind 5. Tracking progress over time Ever wondered how fit your lungs really are without expensive tests or equipment? According to CMC Vellore 's Dr Sudhir Kumar , a renowned neurologist, the Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT) is a quick, science-backed way to measure your breathing efficiency and carbon dioxide tolerance. Used by athletes, breathing coaches, and wellness experts, it's more than just 'holding your breath for as long as you can.' Done correctly, it can give you a snapshot of your respiratory health and even highlight areas you might need to work doctor explained that the BOLT test is a standardised breath-hold technique designed to assess functional breathing. It measures how long you can comfortably hold your breath after a normal exhale—not until you're gasping for air. This makes it a more accurate and safer alternative to random breath-holding Sudhir Kumar explained how to do it. Sit upright and relaxed, breathing normally for a few minutes. Inhale and exhale gently through your nose. Pinch your nose to stop airflow and start timing. Hold your breath only until you first feel the urge to breathe, then release your nose and inhale calmly. Record your time in seconds.A result between 20–30 seconds is considered healthy for most adults. Over 40 seconds means excellent breathing efficiency and CO₂ tolerance—often seen in trained athletes. Less than 20 seconds could suggest poor breathing patterns, low fitness, or other issues, though factors like anxiety or poor sleep can also affect neurologist pointed out to always do the test while seated, never while standing, driving, or in water. He gave a disclaimer that if you have heart or lung conditions, speak to your doctor first. Remember, this test is for self-awareness, not BOLT score can fluctuate depending on rest, stress, or health. Track it over weeks rather than focusing on a single reading. Improvements in breathing habits, fitness, and overall well-being will often be reflected in better scores.
Business Upturn
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
BiomX to Report Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Program Updates on August 13, 2025
NESS ZIONA, Israel, Aug. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BiomX Inc. (NYSE American: PHGE) ('BiomX' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage company advancing novel natural and engineered phage therapies that target specific pathogenic bacteria, today announced that it will report its second quarter 2025 financial results and program updates before the open of the U.S. financial markets on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. The Company will host a conference call and a live audio webcast at 8 a.m. ET, to discuss the second quarter of 2025 financial results and provide program updates. To ensure you are connected prior to the beginning of the call, BiomX suggests registering a minimum of 5 minutes before the start of the call. For those not planning to ask a question of management, the Company recommends listening via the webcast. Advertisement Conference Call Dial-In & Webcast Information: The live and archived webcast will also be available in the Investors section of the Company's website at About BiomX BiomX is a clinical-stage company leading the development of natural and engineered phage cocktails and personalized phage treatments designed to target and destroy harmful bacteria for the treatment of chronic diseases with substantial unmet needs. BiomX discovers and validates proprietary bacterial targets and applies its BOLT ('BacteriOphage Lead to Treatment') platform to customize phage compositions against these targets. For more information, please visit the content of which does not form a part of this press release. BiomX, Inc. Ben Cohen [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Bolt celebrates Mandela Day with youth empowerment initiative
Artist Anele Zondo shared her own journey, highlighting the value of believing in yourself. Artist Anele Zondo shared her own journey, highlighting the value of believing in yourself. BOLT celebrated Nelson Mandela Day with a unique initiative aimed at empowering the youth. The company hosted a one-day youth career empowerment expo, "Drive the Future: 67 Minutes for Madiba," at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Sixty-seven high school learners from Soweto participated in inspiring panel talks, interactive activities, and career demos, gaining valuable insights into potential career paths and industries. The event was an impactful celebration of Mandela's values and ideals, providing attendees with opportunities to engage with leading creatives, tech leaders, and BOLT professionals. The expo offered a platform for the youth to learn, network, and explore their future prospects, aligning with Mandela's legacy of promoting education and social change. The event was opened by Lerato Motsoeneng, Senior General Manager of Bolt South Africa, who delivered a powerful welcoming address. He spoke about his own challenging varsity years, shaped by financial hardship and perseverance. Motsoeneng shared how those early experiences gave him a deep sense of purpose that continues to guide his leadership today. In a gesture of commitment to the youth, he even offered to mentor 5 of the students in attendance, further underscoring BOLT's dedication to empowering the next generation.
