Klarinet Archive - Posting 001001.txt from 1998/04

From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: wind instruments and circus tricks
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 19:44:37 -0400

An embolism can be air, fat, or a blood clot (actually anything -
these are just the three that happen barring really wierd
circumstances) that travels through the circulatory system and ends
up blocking circulation. Air emboli most commonly result when there
is damage to a blood vessel and air can enter the vessel. Circular
breathing (on its own) is not going to cause this. They can happen
with damage to the lungs, but...

Lee Hickling wrote:
> An air bubble in a vein or artery is called an embolism. I can think of no
> physiological mechanism by which air from the lungs, or anywhere in the
> respiratory tract, could enter the blood stream. I think the story is an
> urban legend. Did anyone else ever hear it? If so, that would confirm its
> legend status.
>
> Lee Hickling <hickling@-----.net>
>
> Joshua Coleman wrote:
> >My band director during my senior year of high school told us about a horn
> >player friend of his who could circular breathe. In fact, this horn
> >player did it so much it often irritated other members of the ensemble.
> >Our band director went on to tell us he died of an air bubble getting
> >stuck in his heart and popping (embellism? (sp?)). What that has to do
> >with circular breathing, I don't know!
>
Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
2105 Independence Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64124
email: dikarius@-----.EDU