Mentallic said:What kind of air or water pressures can a human withstand? Approximately when does it become difficult to breathe and eventually impossible to breathe? After this point, would the person being succumb to these extremes be able to hold air in their lungs? What would be the first factor to cause death?
Andy Resnick said:Echoing what berkeman said, your lungs can only pull a [tex]\Delta P[/tex] of about 20-30 inH20. But, if you had a pressure-regulated breathing device (SCUBA, etc), your body can physically withstand quite high and low hydrostatic pressures.
Human pressure is the amount of force exerted on the human body by air or water. It is typically measured in units of pressure, such as pounds per square inch (psi) or atmospheres (atm).
The maximum pressure a human body can withstand varies depending on several factors such as the individual's physical health, age, and the duration of exposure. However, the average pressure a healthy adult can withstand is around 3-4 atm of pressure.
When exposed to high pressure, the human body experiences several physiological effects such as decreased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and reduced lung capacity. In extreme cases, it can lead to tissue damage and even death.
Air and water pressure affect the human body differently. Air pressure changes are more gradual and can be adjusted to by equalizing the pressure in the body's air spaces. However, water pressure changes are more rapid and can cause more severe effects, such as the collapse of lungs.
Humans can adapt to withstand higher pressures through gradual exposure and training, such as in deep-sea diving or high-altitude mountaineering. Additionally, wearing specialized equipment, such as diving suits or pressure chambers, can help protect the body from extreme pressures.