"Second wind" - one of the most unusual and poorly studied phenomena of the human body. It is shrouded in a lot of myths: some argue that this effect allows winning professional sportsmen, others - that you can not count on it, because the phenomenon is difficult to explain.
"Second wind" - what is it?
One hundred percent accurate scientific substantiation of this phenomenon does not exist. Doctors have only an approximate idea of what "second wind" is in sports. Its physiological nature is manifested in the following:
- During the intense workload of all muscles and the respiratory system of the body, severe fatigue occurs and the tone decreases.
- After a time interval of 3 to 5 minutes after the appearance of fatigue, it is unexpectedly replaced by ease in movements - this feeling is described by people who collided with it in answering the question of what "second wind" means.
- After the termination of sports training fatigue comes back, and muscles again relax.
Signs of a "second wind"
To distinguish the surge of energy from a flash of enthusiasm is not so difficult, as it seems at first glance. In order to feel its approach, no special monitoring or research is needed. "Second wind" when running or athletic load is felt as:
- normalization of breathing and heart rate;
- reduce stress;
- restoration of acid-base balance of blood;
- reduce stress;
- unusual mobility of joints and extremities.
"Dead point" and "second wind"
Any person familiar with this phenomenon knows the fact that it is difficult to wait for its occurrence. Long-term muscular work provokes a decrease in working capacity and creates a feeling of absolute exhaustion. Discomfort in the legs and hands, a decrease in lung volume, tachycardia - all these signs are typical for sports work with an overly intense start.
"Second wind" for runners and other categories of athletes is opened after passing the "dead point" - the peak of a debilitating phase, giving the impression that all physical possibilities are exhausted. You can identify it by the characteristic symptoms:
- shallow breathing with increased frequency;
- increased sweating;
- decrease in ph-level of blood;
- reduction of oxygen in the cells.
Why the "second wind" opens?
Breathing is the continuous activity of the human body in the exchange of substances between the cells of the body and the external environment. Energy processes in the ordinary interaction with the external environment - this type of breathing is called aerobic. With repeated prolonged exertion, fatigue can not be avoided. The "second breath" of a person opens at the limit of possibilities, when the lungs pass to an anaerobic type of work, when the process of oxygen processing is slower than necessary and energy exchange takes place, as it were, "in debt".
"Second wind" - biochemistry
The chemical substance responsible for the occurrence of a tidal force is called the nucleotide adenosine triphosphate. This is the main "fuel" for the body when it is loaded during the opening of the "second breath". Adenosine nucleotides are the main component of the energy metabolism of any cell of the human body. The building material of the nucleotide is proteins and carbohydrates that come with food. The mechanism that starts the second breath of a person looks like this:
- With increased muscle work, lipolysis occurs. It is the oxidation of glucose with the participation of oxygen.
- Since the muscle fiber contains a large number of mitochondria, hydrogen ions are instantly processed and maintain anaerobic lung function.
- "Second breath" in sport is the effect caused by the chemical reaction of pyruvic acid, which turns into lactic acid (lactate), which is further transformed into the nucleotide adenosine triphosphate.
Physiology of "second wind"
Interpretation at an angle of physical capabilities of the body is still more focused on lactic acid than on adenosine substances. Nutritionists and fitness specialists know that the "second wind" of athletes arises extremely rarely. For him, a certain amount of lactate is required, which can be accumulated only if there is a long absence of muscle load. The acidified tissues of the human body are considered a symptom of the following disorders:
- delayed metabolism;
- presence of excessive fat mass;
- insufficient function of the respiratory system;
- improper diet;
- sedentary lifestyle.
How to open a "second wind"?
Professionals of the world of sports know that absolutely rely on second wind would be a serious mistake, because the chances for its appearance in everyone who stably deals in sports are negligible. The only sphere that allows to influence the spontaneous inflow of forces is a run for short and long distances. There are recommendations to uncover the answer to the question of how to open a "second wind" when running:
- Temporary decrease in the level of physical activity before an important race. Perhaps, it is possible to deceive the body and make it "forget" about the previous loads.
- Stabilization of breathing and alternation of distances. Races for 3-4 km need to alternate with a distance of 5-8 km.
- "Second wind" can be developed during exercise in mountainous terrain. Running with lifting up quickly tires, so the chance for a surge of energy is growing.