Breathing. Just plain old breathing.

I want to post this here, as it might be helpful. I also want to say that I'm new, and I am still perhaps months away from a sleep study. So I can't say I have sleep apnea. Although I am 99 percent certain that I do.
After waking up with a headache, if I breath vigorously for a half hour, my headache is gone, and I feel refreshed. This is when I felt significantly closer to confirming that what I had was apnea.

Now here's the part that I want to share. I have noticed that when I am concentrating on something, I stop breathing. I've been spending time on Google going over websites that discuss improper breathing. It's not uncommon. I don't know why, but proper breathing isn't as automatic as it once was.

I'm posting this because even though this is a sleep apnea forum, I believe that we also need to be aware of what we are doing while we are awake. And I can guess that if we were to pay closer attention to proper breathing in our waking state, perhaps our sleeping state would follow. That is a simplification and it ignores obstructive problems. But one never knows how this could influence our physiology.

I used to be a certified cardiopulmonary techinician. I am also a mechanical engineer. That does not mean I know what I'm talking about. But at least you know I'm not a total dummy.

I hope you'll forgive me for posting in this forum before I have completed a sleep study to confirm or deny my condition. It just seemed like something you might like to ponder. Breathing seems so simple. But my experience is that it's not. I'm always searching for alternative solutions. Sometimes it's as simple as being aware.

Gregg

Hi Gregg
Welcome - and let us know what develops.
O.

You know Gregg, I almost posted something a while back about this. I notice a lot of times when I am sitting at the computer or whatnot and totally into something, I seem to forget to breathe. All of a sudden I take a deep breath. I suffer with anxiety problems too and was told that ppl with anxiety issues as severe as mine are/were (they are not nearly as bad nowdays) tend to breath shallow. I do notice thought that since starting cpap I tend to forget to breathe. I wonder if I have done it all along or just since starting cpap I tend to notice it. Could it be where we dont seem to have to work as hard to breathe at night with cpap that our bodies forget to breathe at other times? Anyone have any insight on this?

I tend to do this same thing when I am concentrating on something, I will suddenly notice that I am not breathing. But it is not just since cpap. I have always done this as well as I can remember.
Also about 8 years ago, I suddenly started to have vasovagal syncope (fainting spells). First one I ever had, I thought "I'm dying and nothing even hurts." I knew my heart had stopped and I had gone really cold starting at my waist and moving down, then from waist up. However, knock on wood, I haven't had a single one in almost a year. And at one time I might have several a day. Doctor never agreed but IMHO it had something to do with hormones.
And I had always wondered if my stopping breathing and vasovagal were related or the same type of problem.
Neurologists' simplified explanation was a miscommunication between brain and heart. That the brain for some unknown reason thinks the heart should stop beating and tells it to do so.
IMHO, the stopping breathing must be a similar type thing. Never knew if anyone else did this.

Glad to know I am not the only person whose body does weird things!


I never really told them about not breathing but assumed that this may be the same type thing: just a
miscommunication between brain and lungs.

stopping breathing while concentrating on something while awake is a pretty common problem...and yes its a problem.

I do Taiji and whenever the question comes up in class from a new person about "what is proper breathing", the teacher answers "yes".
and then says the key it to remember to breath. It is suprising how often he has to remind new people in the class to breath (and relax).

I know I often find myself holding my breath when concentrating and have to remind myself to breath. Does this tie in with apnea? I don't know. In my case there was certainly a correlation, which could have been coincidence.

But more important is your symptom of morning headaches and breathing them out. Morning headaches were one of MY prime symptoms of apnea (ignoring the snoring issue). I sometimes wonder if I survived so many years with untreated apnea because I am heavy into heavy exercise and I would just oxygenate my blood enough during the day to at least allow me to survive for all those years. Just a theory though.

Might be worth getting checked out or at least go through some screening.

snork1 wrote:stopping breathing while concentrating on something while awake is a pretty common problem...and yes its a problem.

I remember running across this old thread regarding the same "not breathing" issue:

Anyone "forget" to breathe while awake?

I do it too.

I also stop breathing while I'm concentrating or doing something, like reading a book even. Then I'll have a HUGE sigh to catch up on the oxygen. I've had lots of people comment on that over the years. Don't know why I do that, but I've done it forever...Seems to be common, huh.

Jan in Colo.

What about this angle? Have you ever almost caused yourself to have a panic attack, or severe anxiety, because if you thought about breathing, it didn't come automatically and became uncomfortable? I used to go through that. I used to think about my breathing pattern, which for some weird reason would cause me to have trouble breathing. Has anyone else ever experienced that? Sort of like thinking about swallowing and having trouble doing that. I find that if I think about natural functions, sometimes they won't come naturally. Don't know if it's psychological or physiological.

Yes Lori, in dealing with my very severe anxiety and panic attacks I have done that many times. Specially with having asthma and anxiety if I caught myself not breathing 'right' I would make it worse by getting soo worked up cause I would think something was wrong I would have a panic attack which in turn would sometimes make my asthma act up which then I needed albuterol which made the anxiety horrible and would make me shakey lol. I very very vicious cycle...Now when I catch myself not breathing right its usually not as bad.

As a child, I remember having to concentrate on my breathing when I was trying to fall asleep. I felt panicly like I was going to stop breathing. Forty years later I get diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. Guess I have had it a lot longer than the doctor thinks! Also, I shallow breath and frequently "sigh" after taking a deep breath. A lawyer I used to work for commented that I sighed deeply every time I walked into his office! The job was stressful, so maybe I held my breath a lot then!
This is an interesting thread!

So, Carla, you're another lucky one who works, or did, with lawyers? Every day of my working life for over 25 years...I'm going to start looking for a new career. I know it's late in life to do this, but I need a change and something that doesn't give me homework on every job I do. I also need less stress and have been told that my job is the #2 most stressful job in the country. Lucky, lucky me. I'm getting too old for this. Time to relax. No wonder I had trouble breathing at times over the years...

I think i remember from Anatomy/Physiology class that breathing is controlled on two different levels in the body. While you are awake it is one part of the brain controlling it. this is why you can "hold" your breath. But remember you can only hold your breath so long and then your body's reflexes take over and make you breathe. Brain stem reaction I believe. Brain stem handles all core body functions while unconscious (ie. sleep)

This is an interesting thread. I also note breath holding at times. I read an article once that students in college hold their breath because they are nervous during exams. The article went on to say that the simple act of deep breathing during testing time would increase O2 to the brain and students could expect an increase of 5 points on their testing average. I have recommended this approach to friends who are struggling with testing anxieties. Everyone has come back to me with a positive experience. It makes sense that an increase in O2 would allow for better focus/clarity.