Is it sleep apnea?

[livitup11]

I never would have thought I might have sleep apnea, but recenly I have considered it a possibility. For years I have had the problem of holding my breath in while I am sleeping, just to let it out in a gasp a short while after. I'm not overweight and I don't snore, but the fact that this sometimes prevents me from falling asleep and/or gives me an awful headache worries me.

Is it sleep apnea?

[QuiteNewHere]

It is a sleep disorder. You do not "hold" your breath because the term holding implies that you are doing this voluntarily.
Sleep apnea is completely involuntary.
There are numerous sleep disorder clinics around and it is a specialty field where there are many sleep aids to help with individual problems.
Check it out.

[hotmommadru]

Thats the way my husband does and loses his breathe,gasp and in the mean time I am listening and it takes a while for him to gasp.I get scared so I usually touch him to make him get his breath.I would go be checked out just to make sure.He had blockages is why he was doing that.He ended up having a heart attack had to have 5 by pass surgery and now he is fine.Please be checked and may God bless you.

[Julie F]

Sounds like it. You should check with your doctor if you can be refered to a sleep clinic where they will observe you while you sleep.

You could also change your sleep position, sleep on either of your sides.

[lala 16]

sleep apnea is usually snoring. but u should ge get it checked out to make sure its not bad.

[oneblondepilgrim]

Sleep apnoea does not involve holding your breath, but rather, your body does not trigger the inhalation of a breath.. With sleep apnoea, you don't breath, and in many cases your heart stops momentarily until the levels of nitrogen, oxygen, acid and others elements in the blood change sufficiently enough to trigger the breath response.

[Joe McManus]

Have a look at http://www.sleep-tests.co.uk - it can help you determine whether it is, or isn't, Sleep Apnea.

[acebass]

I'm not overweight

Don't get too hung up on the overweight bit, not all sufferers are overweight, some have set back lower jaws which cause the area around the windpipe to be smaller and more prone to getting shut off when the muscles relax (as in sleep). There are other causes too but I am not a doctor so wont spout on about it too much.....