Stopping Breathing In Sleep

[Emilyx]

For the past couple of weeks my boyfriend has been stopping breathing in his sleep. It doesn't happen every night, but it does keep happening. It's sort of like he has been holding his breath in his sleep for ages & then he suddenly wakes up gagging for air. He has asthma but it's only very mild & he only has to take his inhaler occasionally. That's more for when he's around cats & dogs because he's allergic. He doesn't feel the need to take it though when this happens while sleeping. He does drink every night & at first he thought it was off wine, but last night he only had a couple of cans of lager & it happend again. We are both worried, does anyone know anything?

[redcrx]

could be sleep apnoea. http://www.nhs.uk/Con...oea/Pages/Causes.aspx

drinking alcohol can make it worse so perhaps he can cut back and see if it helps

[Emilyx]

Ok, thanks. I'll have a look at the link.

[4getmenot]

yes he needs to stop drinking every night, put aside the sleep apnoea its not good for his liver either

[Sqad]

Sleep apnoea is quite common and often associated with obesity and alcohol consumption.

There are 3 types.
1) Central........due to brain problems
2) Obstructive.........nasal problems, tonsil problems or a lax palate.
3) Laryngeal problems.

It is important to see an ENT surgeon and have sleep studies performed to see which of the above 3 is causing your problem as the treatment is different.

Until your boyfriend is slipped into one of the above "pigeon holes" one cannot add anything further.

[Answerprancer]

I get this sometimes - I wake up with my airway sort of 'locked up' and for a second or two it's terrifying - then I breathe and go back to sleep. Having read what I've read - I'm guessing it's to do with the fact that I drink relativerly heavily most nights.

[Emilyx]

Yeah i think it's to do with drinking now i read this. He only snores when he's had a drink & he snores REALLY loud. When he's not had a drink he doesn't.

[Lurchio]

I get this sometimes as well and it is when I have had a drink.
It can be very frightening but the thing he must not do is panic to catch his breath as that will make it worse.
I have found that by just sitting upright and trying too relax then I get my breath back straight away.

[mollykins]

Squad might be able to (un)confirm this; could one of those cream, preventitive inhalers help at all?

[andy-hughes]

Sleep apnoea is not a dngerous condition in itself, but it does cause a strain on the heart which rushes to 'kick-start' the breathing again. This can happen hundreds of times in a night, so the strain can be cumulative, and lead to issues in later life.

i think a sleep study referral from his GP is a good idea - but be aware, the alcohol may have to go!

[Sqad]

mollykins, you will have to be more specific that that......which cream inhalers?.....the answer will probably be..." no, they will not help"

[Emilyx]

Thanks for your help everyone but his doctor said he was having panic attacks in his sleep. It sounds more like this though :S

[RainbowPrism]

I am not sure if I suffer with this now, some nights i get woken up by a choking sensation, cant swallow, and feels like I am going to be sick, my heart is pounding and I have to cough alot to 'clear' my throat and reach for a drink of water (I always keep a bottle by my bed in case of these attacks) and they do frighten me sometimes...is this similar ? I dont have any sinus problems or a cold or any allergies and I have had this for years on and off....as I say it doesnt happen every night and it can happen weather or not I have had alcohol, I dont smoke either.