Holding your breath can save your life and may have other physiological benefits. here's how to train to do it safely, as well as what you need to know about the various side effects. Certain health problems can restrict the lungs’ capacity, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) and asthma. a person may not be able to change how much oxygen their lungs can hold. The two exercises below are about holding your breath. how long you can hold your breath, after exhalation, is an indication of your health status. the shorter the time you can hold your breath, the poorer your health. you will notice that your ability to hold your breath increases when you relax, not when you tense up. While no one can increase the physical size of their lungs, it is possible to train them to be more efficient in taking in and using oxygen. this allows a person to breathe in more air and hold it longer. increased lung efficiency also leads to a healthier lifestyle because the body can bette...