Breath-hold divers sometimes practice intentional, temporary hyperinflation. The sport requires the athlete to dive beneath the water without the assistance of scuba diving equipment. Breath-hold divers have learned to hyperinflate their lungs through glossopharyngeal insufflation (GI), which involves gulping air into the lungs, increasing oxygen storage beyond that which can be achieved by breathing naturally. Studies suggest intentional hyperinflation is reversible and has no lasting consequences.

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