Breath Play or Erotic Asphyxiation—Do Not Do This - Living Sexuality. This is not an area of expertise for me at all, but with the recent news of David Carradine’s death, it seems it may be appropriate to put some information out about Breath Play.
I’ve included a passage from Paul Joannides’ book Guide to Getting It On. * If you are a parent, please view this as another reason why it is crucial that you talk to your kids (in an open, honest, and ongoing manner) about making wise sexual choices. A reader recently reported that he puts his hands around his partner’s neck and squeezes tightly when they are having sex—at her request. Jay Wiseman. Breath play help and advice needed - BDSM Tips & Techniques. Some people claim that breath play is too dangerous for any sane individual to participate in, because of the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Concern about safety is a good thing, as is an examination of the relative risk of any activity. People who scuba dive should know that the more they dive the more risk they have of developing permanent brain lesions. Breath Play. Safe Breath Play. Erotic asphyxiation. Erotic asphyxiation or breath control play is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal.
The sexual practice is variously called asphyxiophilia, autoerotic asphyxia, hypoxyphilia. Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a gasper. The erotic interest in asphyxiation is classified as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. Physiology Author John Curra wrote, "The carotid arteries (on either side of the neck) carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain.