"Holding the breath on the exhale is instinctive to help people focus or concentrate harder on what they're doing. Temporarily inhibiting a subconscious brain activity such as breathing allows the brain to divert its resources to carrying out a difficult task.
What causes breath holding? The cause of breath holding is not known. Breath holding is usually involuntary, and is caused by a slowing of the heart rate or changes in your child's usual breathing patterns. Sometimes breath-holding spells are brought on by strong emotions such as anger, fear, pain or frustration.
“Email apnea” is a term credited to former Apple exec Linda Stone. Just like it's better-known bedtime counterpart, sleep apnea, the term describes prolonged periods where you go without breathing—you hold your breath without realizing it—while at your desk or at work.
Hyperventilation is Triggered by Too Much Oxygen
Your body is taking in too much oxygen and expelling too much carbon dioxide. So you still feel like you are not breathing enough, no matter how hard you try. Those who are hyperventilating typically take quick, loud gasps of air.
Some anxious people hold or quiet their breathing when they are anxious or stressed. Holding or quieting your breath can cause the shortness of breath and feeling out of breath symptoms.
Cyanotic Breath-Holding Spell Absence or pause in breathing (apnea) that may be involuntary and is believed to be related to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Mostly benign, it may lead to more serious conditions of bradycardia, asystole, cyanosis, syncope, and seizures.
Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), also known as “Ondine's curse,” is a rare neurological disorder characterized by inadequate breathing during sleep and in more severely affected individuals, during waking periods as well.
Breath-holding is a voluntary act, but normal subjects appear unable to breath-hold to unconsciousness. A powerful involuntary mechanism normally overrides voluntary breath-holding and causes the breath that defines the breakpoint.
Breath holding spells may occur in children who have a normal neurological exam and in children who meet age-appropriate developmental milestones, but normally breath-holding spells do not affect the subsequent neurological development of a child.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes the airways to collapse or become blocked while you're asleep. It can cause you to stop breathing for 20 to 30 seconds at a time, numerous times throughout the night.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
It occurs when the soft tissues in your throat relax, which can close your airway and cause a temporarily stop to breathing (apneic episode). The result is usually an abrupt disturbance to sleep or an actual awakening, often accompanied by gasping or choking.
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of anxiety. As with other anxiety symptoms, it can be concerning. However, it is ultimately harmless and will go away when the anxiety lifts. Feeling short of breath can make a person feel more anxious.
Breathing and stress
Typically, an anxious person takes small, shallow breaths, using their shoulders rather than their diaphragm to move air in and out of their lungs. This style of breathing disrupts the balance of gases in the body.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
The life expectancy of a patient with sleep apnea who is under 50 years old is between 8 and 18 years. If patients receive the treatment they are likely to live longer, with fewer excess health complications than those who do not receive treatment.
So, does anyone ever pass a sleep apnea test? Yes, but people who sleep well don't usually opt for testing.
You might not be aware of it, but your breathing problems may wake you several times during the night. Sleepiness while driving. Morning headaches. Scientists aren't sure why people with sleep apnea get these.
Obstructive sleep apnea can also contribute to weight gain and obesity. Research has shown that approximately 40 percent of the people living with obesity also have obstructive sleep apnea, and 70 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are obese.
Breath-holding is usually harmless
are not epileptic seizures.
Try to stay calm and reassure yourself that your child is safe. Check your child's mouth for food or any object that could cause choking. Call 911 if your child remains blue or is not breathing for longer than a minute.
There are no drugs or other treatments for these spells. Some studies suggest that anemia, or low levels of red blood cells, may be a culprit and that iron supplements may help. But more research is needed. The best thing to do is let your child lie on their side while they're out.