I stop breathing while im asleep...?

Question

and it wakes me up slightly. but its really hard to take a breath or move when it happens, its like my body is paralyzed (or if any of you take really strong perscription sleeping pills and wake up before youre supposed to its like Uber hard to move) im not overweight so its not that...and im 16 if that makes any difference. but once i am finally able to take a breath i can move again (not a lot, but enough) its only been happening recently it doesnt happen every night and sometimes it happens 2 or 3 times a night...so question is whats causing this?

also ive been eating quiet a bit of meat lately...could that cause the problem?

Answer 1

Go to a sleep disorder clinic. You will have to sleep there while hooked up to monitors. By doing this you can be properly diagnosed. It sounds like you have sleep apnea but, without proper diagnosis, who knows. If you have sleep apnea, they have a machine that you have at home that keeps an air supply going in to your lungs. This machine works very well. Sleep apnea occurs more often with a person with too much weight. Since you are not overweight it is all the more important to get a proper diagnosis. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE SLEEPING PILLS! That could be fatal. Best of Luck!

Answer 2

I think the best way to determine the cause would be to see your health care provider and ask if a sleep apnea ( stop breathing whilst asleep) study is recommended. This generally means you will spent a night in a hospital setting with various lil wires attached to you and you are being video taped. This records the sleep breathing pattern as well documents your symptoms. If it is determined that you have sleep apnea- a CPAP ( Continuous positive air pressure) or a BiPap ( Biphasic Positive air pressure) machine is ordered for your home use. The way this works, is to wear a mask or nasal prongs attached to a lil machine which will sit on your night stand. It will "blow" air into your lungs regardless of your personal effort of breathing. That doesn't mean that you don't' have to breathe at all, but it will supplement the times that you stop breathing. Many Patients who suffer from sleep apnea will report an improvement of alertness, and well being once regulated on the CPAP. It also takes away( to a point) fears of not resuming breathing of course. It will take a while to get used to wearing this during sleep. There is a small blowing noise with it. The machines also vary , and some come with built in humidifers .

Answer 3

The first thought would be of course Sleep Apnea.

But that is definitely not for sure.

It's kind of hard to tell from your description because that sounds like something else that can happen when you just wake up before your body is "ready"
It's scary but it's not harmful at all.
But if it's happening 2-3 times it does seem more like sleep apnea.

Really good that you noticed it, now you need to go to the doctor soon because it can be dangerous. At the very least you won't be getting a decent sleep, which is a bad enough thing to have to deal with.

Have you taken sleeping pills? From your question it seems like you have but this seems weird for a 16 year old. Be sure to mention that to the doctor when you go.
Don't worry about it, especially if you're not overweight. You can still have it but it gets more dangerous the bigger you are.

Just go as soon as you can and the doc will refer you to the necessary people.

Answer 4

Yeah, sleep apnea...
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Sleep apnea may be characterized by choking sensations. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Certain mechanical and structural problems in the airway may cause interruptions (apneic events) in breathing during sleep. In some people, apnea occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the opening of the airway. When the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula (the small fleshy tissue hanging from the center of the back of the throat) relax and sag, the airway becomes blocked, making breathing labored and noisy and even stopping it altogether. Sleep apnea also can occur in obese people when an excess amount of tissue in the airway causes it to be narrowed. With a narrowed airway, the person continues his or her efforts to breathe, but air cannot easily flow into or out of the nose or mouth. Unknown to the person, this results in heavy snoring, periods of no breathing, and frequent arousals (causing abrupt changes from deep sleep to light sleep).

Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes, but is more common in men. People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who snore loudly, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway.

Answer 5

This is classified under sleep disorders. It could be anything from sleep apnea to narcolepsy/cataplexy. But I think it has to do with a dissociation in the brain between your sleep center controlling muscle tone and your motor center initiating movement. It also has to do with your brains neurotransmitters. I doubt if actually you completely stop breathing for that long. Go to a sleep medicine center for evaluation.

Answer 6

The most general posible anwer is "sleep apenoea" I suffer this myself,sometimes my brain wakes me up,but often not,What concerns me is how you feel your body is paralysed,this can occurr in serious cases of sleep apenoea as I have,I often wake paralysed aware I am not breating,then the brain kicks in,I manage to take a breath then I am not paralised,either way I strongly recomend you request from your doctor to see a specialist to have a full sleep study as it is a serious yet hidden disorder,also a complete checkup by a major neurological specialist would also be greatly helpful as my brother developed Narcalepsy,where he has been pronounced dead even by cornorers and woken out of the paralys and began breathing.You see with most of these disorders doctors do not usually take the time to truly pick up the true problem/s,I fully recomend from my own experience and that of my brothers,whom now is derteriating into not just the appearance he is not breating,paralys,but was completly frozen full body,if you have these tests,be firm with your doctor,and always insist that or get your friends/family ect , to insist if your ever taken to A & E to instantly place a heart/brain monitor on your finger,as this way they know you are alive.Please seek medical help as speep apenoea does not go away,can worsen,and one needs special medical equipment for it,and please have yourself thourghly checked out neurologically,it's your life and these medical checks could save your life one day,it is also commen for these problems to begin at the onset of puburty,or just before,my brother's began at 13yrs old,I was born with my sleep apenoea,but one can develop this and many other neurological problems just before or at puberty,I have aslo been a Clinical nurse and nursed many cases of many simple to more insideous conditions,I do not aim, to frighten you but PLEASE get yourself checked by sleep apenoea specialists,and a full Neurological assessment just for your own PEACE of mind,as well as to catch your problem as quickly,to my knowledge,experience,both personal and as a clinical nurse it sounds like you suffer from "sleep apenoea" please do not neglect this.Like me you may need night time breatthing aids,as it results in the narrowing of your nasal & oesogeous areas while you sleep.
All the best,Hope I have helped
you and not frightened you off.
A caring friend .Shiara Lennon.

Answer 7

It's sleep apnea and it can cause major health issues. My brother-in-law is a deputy and his got so bad he was falling asleep while driving his cruiser...literally....now he has an oxygen mask to sleep with and he feels EVER so better. He gets a good night's rest and has less health problems than beforehand. Get to a doctor soon!!

Answer 8

Sounds like sleep apnea, possibly with some paralysis. You don't have to be over weight to have apnea. Tonsils and adenoids, enlarged Uvula or tongue can cause this as well. Have your parent take you to a Doctor. You need to have it checked out.

Answer 9

It sounds like sleep apnea, which is really common but should be diagnosed by a doctor, but can be treated.

Answer 10

I am not a doctor and i would advice you to go and see your doctor as soon as possible. Nobody on here would be able to diagnose you over the computer. Please go to your doctor even if to just put your mind at ease. Take care xx