Breathing while asleep

[chazza]

My boyfriend often has a very strange way of breathing while he's asleep.

He breathes in deeply, holds it until it must be starting to get uncomfortable, and then lets it out slowly and noisily.
Also, sometimes when he is breathing normally in his sleep, he lets out a little grunt like a "hm" with every single outbreath.

Does anyone else know of anyone that does this as well? Is it a condition or is he unique? He only does it when he's fast asleep, not when he's dozing on the sofa or anything

[4getmenot]

I;m sure other people do it too, there cant be only him out of billions in the world. I laugh in my sleep and often wake myself up with it

[Ethel]

Sounds like sleep apnoea - have a read a see what you think

http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/snoring_&_slee p_apnoea/what_is_sleep_apnoea.php

[chazza]

Yeah I thought of sleep apnoea, but this is something he can control rather than something happens to him. My dad sufferes from SA and it's definitely quite different.

[debbz1969]

A friends of mine has been diagnosed with SA. In tests it was found that she actually stopped breathing over 17 times an hour during the night, and she has NO recollection of it. Now thats scary. It can have very serious effects if not diagnosed and treated, such as high BP, heart disease etc. Also, because your body isn't getting the proper restful sleep required there is more danger of road accidents through lack of concentration or even falling to sleep at the wheel and operating heavy machinery is also dangerous. Sleep Apnoea is one of the conditions that should be reported to the DVLA, if the sufferer drives. If it is untreated the DVLA could revoke your licence.
Please tell your BF to get it checked out.
Good luck. x

[WoWo]

I do it as well, as does my uncle. Wouldn't go so far as to call it sleep apnoea.

[k8bailey]

LOL my boyf does this too, drives me up the wall, I keep prodding him in the ribs saying breathe and then he lets go instead of breathing out really slowly and like you said noisily! he also makes a wierd nasal sounding click, but thats only when he's not snoring or sleepwalking!!

and he wonders why I'm always tired?!

[chazza]

Yes that's exactly it k8bailey! If you find a solution let me know as i rarely get a full nights sleep either!

Debbz it's not sleep apnoea, that's a completely different thing (read Ethel's link for a better discription). Don't think there's any need to check it out with a dr

[joko]

doing that deliberately is a known relaxation technique... poss similar to the intake of carbn dioxide to relieve hyperventilating....i do it myself when i cant sleep and feel agittated ... perhaps its his body trying to settle him...does he know he does it?

[JonnyBoy12]

Is your boyfriend a dolphin? I am told that they will stop breathing if they fall asleep completely! We can breathe in our sleep, but they can not!

[Scylax]

This sounds very much like Cheyne-Stokes respiration.
It's not uncommon among those who have a tendency
to obesity. Sleeping on one's back doesn't help either.

[chazza]

Well he is very stressed with work at the minute so maybe subconsciously he is trying to relax?

I'll have a look for Cheyne-Stokes on the internet for more information. He's definitely not prone to obesity but I'll google it!