Low Tidal Volume

[Banpen Fugyo]

Im not sure if this will get many views in this forum, but I'll try anyways.

Ive noticed that I breathe very shallow... but not unhealthily (I think). Im not sure if that makes sense, lemme try again.

When I am around other people, I can hear them breathe and they take in a lot of air and expel a lot as well. When I have a girl laying on my chest and I try and match her breathing, she is always breathing more slowly than me.

I dont take very deep breaths, which I guess makes me breathe a bit faster than everyone else. I dont feel out of breath when I do this, in fact I feel very relaxed.

If I try to match other people I have to consciously try to breathe deeper and it feels uncomfortable... as if Im running out of air (which seems like the opposite effect if I am inhaling and exhaling MORE O2 and CO2)

Basically, my body works at a lower tidal volume than other people it seems, and Im wondering if this is unhealthy, more healthy, or natural. Does this mean that my body is more efficient because I dont need as much air or does it mean that it is less efficient because I need to breathe faster than everyone else. Haha :(

I am also taller and heavier than most of my friends (not fat at all)

[Garrett]

Im not sure if this will get many views in this forum, but I'll try anyways.

Ive noticed that I breathe very shallow... but not unhealthily (I think). Im not sure if that makes sense, lemme try again.

When I am around other people, I can hear them breathe and they take in a lot of air and expel a lot as well. When I have a girl laying on my chest and I try and match her breathing, she is always breathing more slowly than me.

I dont take very deep breaths, which I guess makes me breathe a bit faster than everyone else. I dont feel out of breath when I do this, in fact I feel very relaxed.

If I try to match other people I have to consciously try to breathe deeper and it feels uncomfortable... as if Im running out of air (which seems like the opposite effect if I am inhaling and exhaling MORE O2 and CO2)

Basically, my body works at a lower tidal volume than other people it seems, and Im wondering if this is unhealthy, more healthy, or natural. Does this mean that my body is more efficient because I dont need as much air or does it mean that it is less efficient because I need to breathe faster than everyone else. Haha :(

I am also taller and heavier than most of my friends (not fat at all)

I wouldn't be worried about it. Your body matches it's breathing primarily to it's need to expel CO2. It's need for O2 comes in far second as there is a large reserve of O2 attached to haemoglobin in the blood.

Since you are bigger than most of your friends, your need for oxygen whilst at rest is larger than others. Lung capacity also increases linearly with body size, so your lungs will be larger than others. Even though you are taking smaller breaths in terms of time, in all likelihood you are breathing in more air than everyone else in that same breath, and since you need more oxygen to cater for your resting needs, you will breath more often.

Unless you actually feel out of breath, there is no need for concern. However if you are worried, you can see your GP and organise a O2 saturation test and other lung tests to check for problems.

[Banpen Fugyo]

ah... that actually makes sense about lung size and capacity... Didnt think of that for some reason :\

So basically it doesnt take as much time for me to get the required CO2 out and O2 in because I have a bigger surface to volume area than smaller people... right?

[Garrett]

ah... that actually makes sense about lung size and capacity... Didnt think of that for some reason :

So basically it doesnt take as much time for me to get the required CO2 out and O2 in because I have a bigger surface to volume area than smaller people... right?

Your gas exchange areas will be larger yes. But then you also have more CO2 to remove and a larger O2 requirement. So it evens out.

Everyone has different breathing cycles, even people that are similar in size. There's a huge number of factors to consider that would affect a persons breathing cycle. As long as you aren't constantly out of breath, don't be worried.