Is there a name for this: anxious people who stop breathing for several

[Peregrine Took]

seconds on the end of the exhalation breath?

Its not hyperventilating or over breathing - its something else.

There is an anxious timing to the breath, usually done by shallow, chest breathers....inhale.....exhale....then no breathing... for about 5 seconds or so - then an anxious inhalation.

At the time of the "no breathing" there is often, also, a stressful bearing down on the lower abdominal organs.

I once heard a name for this type of breathing but I can't find it anywhere.

Thank you.

[babylonsister]

1. Panic attack? Apnea?

Sleep apnea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea

[Beartracks]

3. I'm agreeing with "apnea"...

... although I think that's usually when the person is sleeping. Sometimes an apnea is caused by soft tissues of the neck obstructing the airway as the sleeping person relaxes, but what you described sounds like what I've heard referred to as a "central apnea" where the brain's system that controls breathing periodically "forgets" to send the inhale signal... until the body's blood oxygen level gets low enough to trigger an autonomic "fight or flight" intake of breath.

I'm not saying that a central apnea is what you're asking about; but I have a family member who has been diagnosed with that, and it was a breathing pattern much like what you described that alerted loved ones to the problem.

I don't know if there is anything analogous to a sleep apnea in people who are awake.

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[rubberducky]

2. Sounds like the type of breathing with panic attacks.

I did not know about the abdominal muscles, though. I guess that`s why my doc that treated me for panic attacks had me "make a big belly" when I would experience one.

[Bitwit1234]

4. I think it is apnea and if you do it in your sleep it is

sleep apnea. Some doctors seem to think this condition is what causes Sids death in children. They say children are too young to have learned to start to breath again once this type of breathing take effect. But in adults since they have learned to breath correctly they start to breath again. I really don't know but that is one of the reasons they give.

[Peregrine Took]

5. Thanks. I think it is a form of daytime apnea. n/t

[uppityperson]

6. .Biot's respiration (edited to change, put my original guesses in body

Some sort of ataxia (abnormal rhythm)? Myoclonic breathing? myotonic? Doing a quick google, myotonic sounds better.

Edited to add Biot's. "Biot’s breathing: normal breathing interrupted by sudden apnea; may be a variant of Cheyne-Stokes"
http://d3jonline.tripod.com/20-Pulmonary_II/Control_of_Breathing_and_Abnormal_Breathing_Patterns.htm


Do a google or wiki here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biot's_respiration