Is it safe to sleep under trees?

[twisted firestarter]

I remember being taught that trees absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during the day but at night the reverse happens. Several times while sleeping in my hammock I have found that I have woken short of breath. Am I being stupid or is it possible that the carbon dioxide (which sinks to the ground) is at least partly responsible?

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

[william#]

completely new one on me i dont really know i suspect it may be more to do with how you are sleeping in the hammock - as you know gases dissipates and expand very quickly so would be very surprised if the levels significantly changed.
maybe you are having a reaction to pollen or something else you are allergic to.
probably the biggest danger under trees are falling branches most people will know here that beach tends to have a reputation of dropping branches.
is worth then always to look up and check for anything that might drop .

[bushwacker bob]

You've been starting too many fires!!
Mature Beech trees can be dodgy because of thier tendancy to shed branches.Trees absorb CO2 and expire oxygen and also generate negative ions.Short ness of breath is unlikely to have been caused by a tree unless it was spring and you have a tree pollen allergy

[oldsoldier]

Yeah, I HIGHLY doubt shortness of breath is caused by a tree. There is simply too much room for the gas to expand. Think of it; filling a tank of gas, which would have a much higher gas concentration, would cause you to swoon every time you fill up. I think it may either be the way you are sleeping, or sleep apnea. But, thats my guess.

[xylaria]

I remember being taught that trees absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during the day but at night the reverse happens. Several times while sleeping in my hammock I have found that I have woken short of breath. Am I being stupid or is it possible that the carbon dioxide (which sinks to the ground) is at least partly responsible?

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Maybe you have asthma?
Humans are can funny little onions, we been able to think, invent, and improvise our way out trouble, can be so smart that we can think our way into as well. I dont think you are being stupid, I just think you are thinking too much for your own good. Maybe the trees are causing you shortness of breath but because you allergic to something they are giving off. I am sure that you would get more carbon dioxide in tube train or busy road, if shortness of breath was due to carbon dioxde these places would set you off.

[mace242]

Is it that you sleep in a different position when under the tree in the hammock? I have issues with sleeping on my back in that I often wake up short of breath, even when in bed at home if I do sleep that way. Because of this I simply cannot sleep in a hammock and have to find other ways of sleeping when out, ususally tent or soon to try a bivi bag under a tarp. Try sleeping on the floor in the same place for a night and see if the same happens. If it doesn't then I suspect you have the same issue as me.

[Dougster]

Is your hammock too slack and your legs high up? Your intestines may be scrunched into your diaphragm meaning you can't draw as much breath - pull it tighter and see how you go. It's worth a try.

[twisted firestarter]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Ok I think I'm being paranoid with the Carbon Dioxide thing. I do sleep in a different position in a hammock and change positions dozens of times in the night so the scrunched up diaphragm could well be the problem. I must say that I have slept in hammocks probably a hundred times and don't remember ever having any problems in my old cheapo hammock. Maybe I should just go back to that one:rolleyes:

[pothunter]

Alternatively

It could be carbon monoxide if you are to close to the ground or lack of oxygen if you are to high:confused:

Try replacing your mossy net with an oxygen bubble:eek:

Or, it may be anxiety brought on by fear of the beast!!!!!!!:yikes:

More likely you just need to adjust your sleeping position.

Pothunter

[w00dsmoke]

I do sleep in a different position in a hammock and change positions dozens of times in the night so the scrunched up diaphragm could well be the problem. I must say that I have slept in hammocks probably a hundred times and don't remember ever having any problems in my old cheapo hammock. Maybe I should just go back to that one:rolleyes:

The first time I slept in a hammock I had that problem and occasionally still do. I find it's because of the angle of my neck when sleeping due to the hammock shape, it closes the airway a little and to a certain degree it's unavoidable unless you sleep diagonally across the hammock or sleep on your side

[bushman762]

I remember being taught that trees absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during the day but at night the reverse happens. Several times while sleeping in my hammock I have found that I have woken short of breath.

I keep house plants, to help improve the oxygen / CO2 exchange in the house, and had similar thoughts about keeping plants in the bedroom, but I do.

As Dougster said <Is your hammock too slack and your legs high up? Your intestines may be scrunched into your diaphragm meaning you can't draw as much breath - pull it tighter and see how you go. It's worth a try.>

This I feel could be a good explanation to your symptoms, plus the fact that when you get a good deep sleep your breathing rate goes right down to almost nothing. Some people wake from this sate gasping for breath, quite frightening but it is quite natural.

Best Regards,

:)

[gregorach]

Sounds like sleep apnea to me...

CO2 does not sink to the ground if it's at the same temperature as the surrounding air. Gases just don't interact like that.

[Moff8]

I am sure that I read that in volcanic regions you can get pockets of CO2 released that settle into valleys/depressions. Can cause death due to asphyxiation.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/of97-262/of97-262.html

"Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and can collect in low and poorly ventilated places. Nearly two thousand people have died of carbon dioxide asphyxiation near volcanoes in the past two decades, most of them in Cameroon, Africa, and in Indonesia."

[andyn]

I seem to remember hearing that hospital used to remove plants from patient rooms for this reason. I'm sure that since the days of air conditioning etc that this is no longer practiced either though.

[Dougster]

I am sure that I read that in volcanic regions you can get pockets of CO2 released that settle into valleys/depressions. Can cause death due to asphyxiation.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/of97-262/of97-262.html

"Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and can collect in low and poorly ventilated places. Nearly two thousand people have died of carbon dioxide asphyxiation near volcanoes in the past two decades, most of them in Cameroon, Africa, and in Indonesia."

I'm reasonably sure that you wouldn't have a volcano under a Beech tree!!:lmao:

[kobalt01]

Could it be that tree lying across your chest?!
:twak:
Matt
Ok ill hibernate again

[gregorach]

I am sure that I read that in volcanic regions you can get pockets of CO2 released that settle into valleys/depressions. Can cause death due to asphyxiation.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/of97-262/of97-262.html

"Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and can collect in low and poorly ventilated places. Nearly two thousand people have died of carbon dioxide asphyxiation near volcanoes in the past two decades, most of them in Cameroon, Africa, and in Indonesia."

Yeah, OK, if you can release several thousand tonnes of it from a point source in a very short time, it can behave like that - but it's not normal. If gases normally behaved like that, none of us would be able to breathe right now.

[Stuart]

:dunno: some questions defy a sensible answer

[william#]

:dunno: some questions defy a sensible answer

lol
i suspect that fire starter was just baiting us

[fred gordon]

The answer is not to sleep with house plants in your hammock! Alternatively sleep in a tent!:slap:

[twisted firestarter]

:dunno: some questions defy a sensible answer

Obviously I should apologise to Stuart for posing a question which was too stupid :22:

[bambodoggy]

It can't be true or we wouldn't have Ewoks! :p :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[bushwacker bob]

Obviously I should apologise to Stuart for posing a question which was too stupid :22:

No such thing as a too stupid question.If you dont know ask.Thats the whole point of the forum.
"He who knows not and knows that he knows not,is wise.Teach him."

[Northern Giant UK]

I think sleeping under trees should be safe enough (mature beach excluded)
CO2 (no matter whether it sinks or not) given off by trees will dissipate amongst the usual mix of gasses we breath. If buildup of CO2 was a reall worry then tents would be made with great big holes in ;) .
Personally I feel far more endangered sleeping in my bed at home (my wife emits far more noxious gasses than any tree :sigh: )

Kev

[Stuart]

Obviously I should apologise to Stuart for posing a question which was too stupid :22:

My apologies if I have upset you, I assumed your question had to be a wind up!

If it was a genuine question however the simplest answer I can give is:

No you wont asphyxiate from the CO2 given off by trees in the night when sleeping beneath them, if that where possible nobody could live in large forests such as Siberia or in tropical rain forests and the entirety of mankind would have perished in its sleep long before we evolved to the stage where we could ask such questions

[hanzo]

Don't sleep under a coconut tree! Coconuts falling on your body can cause shortness of breath and can cause dizziness or worse when they fall on your head.

[twisted firestarter]

My apologies if I have upset you, I assumed your question had to be a wind up!

If it was a genuine question however the simplest answer I can give is:

No you wont asphyxiate from the CO2 given off by trees in the night when sleeping beneath them, if that where possible nobody could live in large forests such as Siberia or in tropical rain forests and the entirety of mankind would have perished in its sleep long before we evolved to the stage where we could ask such questions

No need to apologise Stuart, you have not upset me.

I just couldn't find the 'sarcastic' icon for my last post ;)

[PhilParry]

How about getting a hammock for the wife???:D


Seriously.....also sounds like sleep apnea or asthma...

Do you suffer from shortness of breath during the day, or only the night? If it's just during the night it will probably not be asthma.....

[twisted firestarter]

I have only ever experienced it at night in the hammock, sounds like it's just me wriggling into a compressed shape in my sleep. 43 and still sleeping in a foetal position :lmao:

[anthonyyy]

I seem to remember hearing that hospital used to remove plants from patient rooms for this reason. I'm sure that since the days of air conditioning etc that this is no longer practiced either though.

I saw that done in a hospital in about 1980 (not just pot plants but cut flowers). Quite mad I thought at the time and still do.

[Hoodoo]

I remember being taught that trees absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during the day but at night the reverse happens. Several times while sleeping in my hammock I have found that I have woken short of breath. Am I being stupid or is it possible that the carbon dioxide (which sinks to the ground) is at least partly responsible?

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

That's not exactly right. During the day, plants use and produce CO2 simultaneously. CO2 is a byproduct of cellular respiration. Plants respire both night and day. I doubt that the quantity of CO2 produced at night is that much different than produced during the day although I would guess that plants are more metabolically active during the day for several reasons (except for desert plants that do CAM photosynthesis). The main difference in ambient CO2 (if there is a biologically significant difference which I doubt) would be caused by uptake during the day. I would bet the amount of CO2 increase you are exposed to from plants at night pales compared to the CO2 buildup within an enclosed tent that comes from your own respiration. I do know that a roomful of students can raise CO2 levels 200 ppm or more. :) And of course, sitting around a campfire or sleeping next to one will increase your exposure to CO2 as well.

[twisted firestarter]

That's not exactly right. During the day, plants use and produce CO2 simultaneously. CO2 is a byproduct of cellular respiration. Plants respire both night and day. I doubt that the quantity of CO2 produced at night is that much different than produced during the day although I would guess that plants are more metabolically active during the day for several reasons (except for desert plants that do CAM photosynthesis). The main difference in ambient CO2 (if there is a biologically significant difference which I doubt) would be caused by uptake during the day. I would bet the amount of CO2 increase you are exposed to from plants at night pales compared to the CO2 buildup within an enclosed tent that comes from your own respiration. I do know that a roomful of students can raise CO2 levels 200 ppm or more. :) And of course, sitting around a campfire or sleeping next to one will increase your exposure to CO2 as well.

Thanks for that Hoodoo, I can tell you didn't go to a rubbish comprehensive school like what I did :D

[demographic]

Going by that idea is it safe for me to sleep in the same bed as my wife, she uses oxygen and breathes out carbon dioxide all the time:eek:

Is she safe:dunno::)

Would we both be safer in michael Jacksons oxygen tent? Alright, best not go too far:eek: