Scientists Make Breathing Redundant, Unnecessary

[Gahars]

Of all the strenuous activities out there, breathing is just the worst. I mean, you have to remember to breathe in AND out all the time; there's no breaks or anything. Plus, absolutely everybody does it now, from the young and hip to the old and crotchety. What's up with that, right?

Well, my friends, I've got some news you are going to love. It's shocking, though, so take a deep breath... and forget the rest.

...researchers have designed microparticles that can be injected directly into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate your body, even if you can't breathe anymore. It's one of the best medical breakthroughs in recent years, and one that could save millions of lives every year.

The invention, developed by a team at Boston Children's Hospital, will allow medical teams to keep patients alive and well for 15 to 30 minutes despite major respiratory failure. This is enough time for doctors and emergency personnel to act without risking a heart attack or permanent brain injuries in the patient.

The solution has already been successfully tested on animals under critical lung failure. When the doctors injected this liquid into the patient's veins, it restored oxygen in their blood to near-normal levels, granting them those precious additional minutes of life.

Gizmodo

Like the article said, this breakthrough isn't intended for us Lazy Larrys (and Slothful Susies). A lack of oxygen, even for a short amount of time, can wreak havoc on the human body (especially on the oxygen dependent brain). With these particles, however, we may be able to save precious minutes and seconds; that time could be the very difference between life and death.

Also, the fact that we have something like this is pretty cool. This sounds like something ripped straight from Star Trek. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; we are living in the future.

Oh, and I was joking before. If you haven't already, you should get back to breathing. It's kind of important.

 

[The Catboy]

Well this is quite interesting.
I really hope I see this in use one day

 

[Fishaman P]

Well, this is great, but I certainly wasn't expecting it.

It'd be great if it were a patch or something though; I know a lot of people who are afraid of needles, even if they're unconscious.

 

[Gahars]

Well this is quite interesting.
I really hope I see this in use one day

More testing will need to be done, but that's a very real possibility. We could see EMTs and Doctors stocking and using the substance sometime in the near future (similar to how they stock and use stuff like epinephrine now).

 

[Flame]

damn you Gahars, after reading this I need to remember to breath. now im thinking about breathing.

 

[BORTZ]

What did i just read lol

 

[Wizerzak]

I held my breath all the way through that article!

 

[Janthran]

This made me think of swimming..
Would it let you go underwater and not need to breathe for half an hour? That'd be awesome.
I mean, it's still awesome for people who are choking, but..

 

[Gahars]

This made me think of swimming..
Would it let you go underwater and not need to breathe for half an hour? That'd be awesome.
I mean, it's still awesome for people who are choking, but..

Well, if they injected enough straight into the veins (or, like Fishaman P mentioned, made it available in patch form), that would certainly be a possibility. These particles could also be great for astronauts in the empty vacuum of space should anything ever go wrong.

Really, the potential users for this are as astounding as they are far reaching.

 

[shakirmoledina]

what if u run of these microparticles... can they be produced in large quantities? does it cause any sort of backlash or reaction?
aquaman has just been exposed.

 

[KingVamp]

If they manage to genetically modify the body to produce these particles within, would we no longer have to rely on lungs?

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

Of all the strenuous activities out there, breathing is just the worst. I mean, you have to remember to breathe in AND out all the time; there's no breaks or anything. Plus, absolutely everybody does it now, from the young and hip to the old and crotchety. What's up with that, right?
...

False.

Breathing is a rhythmic, involuntary process regulated by respiratory centers. You don't have to remember nor be conscious of breathing, otherwise you'd die sleeping from asphyxiation.



Someone had to say it.

 

[KingVamp]

Of all the strenuous activities out there, breathing is just the worst. I mean, you have to remember to breathe in AND out all the time; there's no breaks or anything. Plus, absolutely everybody does it now, from the young and hip to the old and crotchety. What's up with that, right?
...

False.

Breathing is a rhythmic, involuntary process regulated by respiratory centers. You don't have to remember nor be conscious of breathing, otherwise you'd die sleeping from asphyxiation.



Someone had to say it.

That's the joke.

Someone had to say that.

Someday we will over populate the seas!!!

/jk

 

[Necron]

^
It was a joke. ninja'd

Anyway, this made me remember of that scene of Star Wars the phantom menace, where Obi-wan and his master (can't spell correctly the name) dive underwater. Apart from medical uses, this can be helpful in that way.

 

[C-Kronos]

This made me think of swimming..
Would it let you go underwater and not need to breathe for half an hour? That'd be awesome.
I mean, it's still awesome for people who are choking, but..

Well, if they injected enough straight into the veins (or, like Fishaman P mentioned, made it available in patch form), that would certainly be a possibility. These particles could also be great for astronauts in the empty vacuum of space should anything ever go wrong.

Really, the potential users for this are as astounding as they are far reaching.

Yeah, because these particles in the blood stream totally make up for the lack of a pressurized suit..

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

Of all the strenuous activities out there, breathing is just the worst. I mean, you have to remember to breathe in AND out all the time; there's no breaks or anything. Plus, absolutely everybody does it now, from the young and hip to the old and crotchety. What's up with that, right?
...

False.

Breathing is a rhythmic, involuntary process regulated by respiratory centers. You don't have to remember nor be conscious of breathing, otherwise you'd die sleeping from asphyxiation.



Someone had to say it.

That's the joke.

Someone had to say that.

Someday we will over populate the seas!!!

/jk

You'd be amazed at how popular a misconception it is.

So long as my post enlightens even one GBATemper, I'd say mission accomplished.

 

[Lastly]

Look father, I can swim longer than the Olympic Champ!

 

[Slyakin]

Interesting, but chances are no drug company in their right mind would distribute this to the public, right?

What'll happen to the release of CO2? Will the lungs just... stop? No respiration at all?

 

[PsyBlade]

If they manage to genetically modify the body to produce these particles within, would we no longer have to rely on lungs?

no modification needed, we already produce tiny cells to carry oxygen
lungs still needed to get something for them to carry

 

[loco365]

I'm strangling you and you're not dying... What is wrong with you?