Breath age test: find your breathing age in 60 seconds
Your breathing has an age, and it isn't necessarily the one on your ID. The BreathLife test measures your CO₂ tolerance and turns it into a breathing age that you can then bring down.
Take the test for freeIn the BreathLife app, on iPhone and Android
What is breathing age?
Breathing age, or breath age, compares how efficient your breathing is with what it should be for your age group. A 35-year-old can have the breath of a 55-year-old, and the other way round.
Its easiest indicator to measure is CO₂ tolerance: your ability to handle a little more carbon dioxide without discomfort. The higher it is, the calmer and more efficient your breathing, and the lower your breathing age.
Unlike your real age, it isn't fixed: a few minutes of exercises a day are enough to move it.
How the test works
Three steps, about a minute, seated and calm.
1. A few questions
Your age and your habits: the result is interpreted for you, not for an average.
2. A guided breath hold
After a normal exhale, you hold your breath comfortably. The app guides you and keeps time.
3. Your result
A level out of 5 and your breathing age, compared with your real age. You can retake the test to track your progress.
The 5 levels of the test
Your result places you on this scale, and the app's exercises adapt to it.
- 1
Strained
Shallow breathing, high stress
- 2
Tired
Limited capacity, frequent fatigue
- 3
Optimal
Average range, room for improvement
- 4
Efficient
Good breathing control
- 5
Exceptional
Above-average CO₂ tolerance
A first estimate at home: the BOLT test
Without an app, the BOLT test popularised by Patrick McKeown (The Oxygen Advantage) gives a rough idea of your CO₂ tolerance.
- 1Sit down and breathe calmly through your nose for a few minutes.
- 2After a normal exhale, pinch your nose and start a timer.
- 3Stop the timer at the first clear urge to breathe, without forcing.
- 4Breathe in again through your nose: it should stay calm. If you need a big gasp, you held too long.
McKeown's reference points: under 10 seconds, breathing clearly needs work; 10 to 20 seconds, there is room for improvement; 20 to 30 seconds is decent; 40 seconds is the goal. The BreathLife test goes further by factoring in your age and your answers to calculate a breathing age.
A wellness indicator, not a medical exam
This test does not diagnose anything. The medical exam for lung function is spirometry, performed by a healthcare professional. Never force a breath hold; if you are pregnant, have a heart or lung condition, or feel unwell, ask your doctor before practising.
How to lower your breathing age
Five simple habits, detailed in our guides.
Frequently asked questions about the test
Measure your breathing age, then bring it down
Free test · 60 seconds · then a 7-day free trial
After the trial: $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year, cancel anytime