Sometimes I forget to breathe

[Konrad]

Should I see a doctor before I die?

The alternative doesn't converge.

[metroshane]

Sometimes while drifting off, i wake myself up because I stop breathing. This only happens rarely and the lack of oxygen wakes me up and i start breathing again. But what is more concering is that my girlfriend says I do it when I'm asleep, too. Sometimes I'll stop breathing for several seconds and then start again. At first I thought I just had real shallow breathing and she "thought" I wasn't taking in air, but this week I've had real bad congestion and have been snoring, so it's really obvious when I'm breathing and when I'm not. Appearantly, it hasn't really effected anything, but it scares the crap out of my girlfriend so bad that she wakes me up because I'll stop for so long. Does anyone else do this? Is it common? Should I see a doctor before I die?

[Nu Vo Da Da]

Well, sleep apnea won't kill you...but it's irritating to everyone else trying to sleep(namely your girlfriend in this case) and it often prevents you from getting as much sleep as you normally would. Going to a doctor couldn't hurt, though it's not exactly a matter of that much urgency.

[Markxxx]

Actually sleep apnia can kill you. Usually not directly but you can increase your risk for a heart attack etc.

I have asthma and it aggrivates me. I only get it if I sleep on my back. It is really scary when it happens as, at least for me, the fact I dream goes into my dreams. I am dreaming then all of a sudden I say to myself...

Get up breathe or you'll die...

[Markxxx]

Actually sleep apnia can kill you. Usually not directly but you can increase your risk for a heart attack etc.

I have asthma and it aggrivates me. I only get it if I sleep on my back. It is really scary when it happens as, at least for me, the fact I dream goes into my dreams. I am dreaming then all of a sudden I say to myself...

Get up breathe or you'll die...

[Nickrz]

You may be the victim of Cheyne-Stokes respiration: http://www.medhelp.org/glossary/new/GLS_1063.HTM

[metroshane]

Thanks for the responses. The stopping breathing part sounds like sleep apnea, but I don't have ANY of the side effects like periodically falling asleep, or overweight, etc. I'm am frequently tired during the day, but I think that's because i usually only get 4-5 hours of sleep a night.