Strange Involuntary Breath

[terrymcc]

I am a 53 year old female, non-smoker and have no weight problems, and no known health problems.

Over the past two years, I've had numerous episodes where my body takes involuntary deep breaths, one every 7-8 minutes, interspersed with my normal breathing.  The intake of breath can be when inhaling or exhaling, and it when it occurs, it disrupts a normal breath.  Often the involuntary breath feels "catchy" as if I'd been crying or sobbing when in fact I have not.  

When the involuntary breaths first started, Sometimes I would go for 3 months without an episode, but then it would come back again, last for a few weeks and go away again.

Within the past 4 months, I had a horrible cold, and then a bad case of bronchitis.  The involuntary breathing has started up with the cold, and it is now contiunous, every 7 to 10 minutes or so.

I recently had an upper endoscopy, and finished a regiment for h pylori bacteria, however this annoying problem remains.

Is it possible this could be related to stess?

I've mentioned it to my doctor, and she doesn't seem to be concerned about it,  Unfortunately, it is of concern to me, and I have no idea what might be causing it.

Any assistance that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

[whisperwolf]

I believe it is called hyperventillation.  Usually associated with anxiety or a panic attack.
I do that too and when I take the time to do some deep breathing, take a walk and set aside whatever I am doing, it stops.  

Sounds like a lot of you started doing this after something stressful; such as an illness, surgery or loss of a job.  

When I was a kid I used to do it whenever I started crying.  It can be pretty scary!

[goforgold]

This has been happening to me the last 3 - 4 weeks and I've been getting a bit worried and did a search and can't believe that so many other people have the same problem.

I'm not overweight, don't drink or smoke, but did start going to the gym instead of swimming because of neck/back problems, about a month ago.  I do fast cycling/treadmill and very very light weights for arm/neck pain.  I never suffer with any breathing problems after the cycling/running etc, although I push myself.

I won't sorry about it now after reading all your helpful posts.

Thanks

[grmominphilly]

I am a 51 year old woman, I started getting these burst of air in the last couple months, I have been diagnosed before i noticed them, with post traumatic stress disorder, and chronic depression and was put on anti anxiety medication, doxepin and now zoloft has been added, I would think it was the medication but my grandson who is 13 and healthy has been experiencing the same thing, we share a home and have oil heat, we heated the upstairs with an electric heater in the beginning of winter to save on costs and thats the only commonality that I know of in our air, we live in an old home that many have some mold issues, im not sure, It sure is good to know that Im not crazy , he sees a dr. on the 29th of Dec and im going to mention this I have not mentioned to my dr. yet , thank u, its good to know im not alone.

[jonig]

I have had this problem for many years.  When I do it, I make a sound like I am surprised - my kids usually ask me what's wrong because it's loud and sudden, and they think something shocked me.  Sometimes it's very infrequent and can be weeks between gasps.  At one point a couple of years ago, I was doing it regularly, maybe hourly or even more frequently (I don't remember, only that I was suddenly very worried because it was so frequent when it had previously been intermittent).  My doctor said not to worry about it.  That was for a period of a couple of weeks and then it went back to much less frequently.  

Starting a day or two ago it's been very regular again - I have done it many times today so I finally decided to look it up.  I'm relieved to see so many people on here have done this - I've never heard of anyone doing it before.  I'm at my heaviest ever and have been blaming it on that but I see that many people who are not overweight also do it.  I was afraid it was a heart problem.  I also notice these past couple of days that I'm feeling my lungs more and breathing doesn't seem as voluntary as it should be - like I have to think about it.  

One side note - I was on a very low calorie diet with barely any carbs (not Atkins, even more restrictive) two years ago and realized later that this gasping thing was totally gone the entire time I was on the diet - about 4-5 months.  My sinus headaches also disappeared completely - I went from 4 Tylenol Sinus pills a day to zero the entire 5 months except once when I had a cold.  I also completely stopped snoring, even when I hadn't lost much weight yet.  This makes me wonder if all of this is related to some kind of wheat or sugar or other allergy, since these were all 100% gone on my diet.  Just a thought.

[Joy29693]

I was so glad to find this site.  I have been having these sudden gasp or sudden deep breaths for a year or so.  Mentioned it to my doctor one time, but is it hard to explain.  I can be embarrassing because people hear you and don't realize you are not sighing or snoring.  It is just a sudden gasp.  Any help would be appreciated.  I don't smoke, but I do have allergies.

Thanks, Joy

[ryle47]

I am really fed up with it now; I am overweight which is due to anxiety medication & antidepressants. I was at the Hospital a few weeks ago as I was having problems with what I thought was my gall bladder. I have lots of reflux & stomach pains. I mentioned the intake of breath & he just knowingly nodded. So probably it is a system, re the gall bladder he was writing notes as I was telling him my symptoms. I have had a camera down my throat this week (go to sleep if you ever have this, it is horrid) & I have a tear in my diaphragm & a hiatus hernia. Oh & I have just given up smoking. When looking on the net, this is the only decent forum of information I have found. I will keep watching.
Just got to add I do seem to be sitting when my intake of breath happens. As it is now, sat here typing. LOL. I laugh as my hubby always thinks I am doing it because I’m bored, Bless!