breath-holding test

breath-hold·ing test

a rough index of cardiopulmonary reserve measured by the length of time that a person who is a study subject can voluntarily stop breathing; normal duration is 30 seconds or longer; diminished cardiac or pulmonary reserve is indicated by a duration of 20 seconds or less.

breath-hold·ing test

(breth-hōld'ing test) A rough index of cardiopulmonary reserve measured by the length of time that a person can voluntarily stop breathing; normal duration is 30 seconds or longer; diminished cardiac or pulmonary reserve is indicated by a duration of 20 seconds or less.