Sudden intake of breath

I've experienced this for years. I've never thought anything of it, just thinking it was a perfectly normal bodily response. We tend to breath shallower when we're sitting, doing nothing, and so the body takes an extra deep breath occasionally to get the necessary oxygen that our shallow breathing isn't giving us. You could get your GP to check it out if you're feeling worried, to put your mind at rest.

Nana56 , my daughter has had this happen on and off for years. She has suffered with anxiety during and after a series of major operations and finds the gasps disturbing but is learning to ignore them. Logically I couldn’t see what it could be a symptom of and is probably no more serious than a yawn. She has spent 12 months in hospital altogether and no medics have considered it to be a problem. Perhaps breathing exercises would be of benefit.

Has anyone noticed that babies do this quite a lot? I have it occasionally and put it down to advancing age! I haven't worried about it so far.

tictacnana Sounds really like sleep apnoea. My late husband had this and scared the life out of me. I used to count tge seconds when he stopped breathing until he took another breath. Scared the wits out of me. When he was admitted to hospital I nentioned this to staff and they too declared what I was thinking. There is a mask for nighttime that helps with breathing. Worth getting it checked with GP.

Posted too soon!
There's also something called paradoxical breathing which can be caused by stress, severe chest infections, trauma, diaphragm weakness. Instead of your chest expanding and abdomen drawing in when you take a breath the opposite pattern occurs., Chest contracts and abdomen expands instead.

This can be the body's response to higher levels of carbon dioxide caused by shallow breathing. Shallow breathing tends to happen when we're tired/relaxed or certain medications can also cause this. Our lungs need to have an increase in oxygen to flush out carbon dioxide.

tictacnana is it possible you have sleep apnoea?

I get this exact thing Nana56,
I find it quite ‘satisfying’ actually, and not a worry at all, bit like a sneeze.

I have this in the night when I stop breathing and my brain wakes me up to tell me to take a breath. If my OH Is awake when I stop breathing he gets frightened and wakes me and I still take a big gasp of air. I wonder if there’s a similar conscious / daytime version of the condition ?

Nana56 I was so glad to see your post, because it happens to me too. And the "hu hu " description is spot on.
Apart from anxiety I have no health conditions and have never had an operation. I find it happens when I am very relaxed and feeling lazy. Almost as if I haven't bothered to breathe properly and my lungs are catching up ( if that makes sense). The worst thing is that it can be quite loud and people think that I am crying or have had a bad shock.
Maybe I should go to see the doctor JIC, but that is easier said than done.

I bought my oximeter during the first lockdown when there was mention of knowing what your oxygen level was should you catch Covid, and that if you rang for help you might be asked what level it was. I have asthma anyway, which is well controlled most of the time, but I thought it would be a useful gadget to have.

I hadn't really thought of buying one, but I was advised to buy one by my rheumatologist, when I had to shield for two years during the pandemic.

I had a second heart attack during the pandemic and was able to tell the ambulance call handler what the reading was. An ambulance arrived within ten minutes. I have been so fortunate in so many ways!

I also have an oximeter so I can check my oxygen levels in my blood from time to time..

Marydoll

It signifies low oxygen levels, Sparklefizz. Fortunately I did mention it, because as a result, I was admitted to hospital, where it was discovered I was on a totally unsuitable heart medication and the dose had been doubled by my GP. It was actually making my condition worse. I ended up in coronary care for a week, until they got to the bottom of things. I was very, very fortunate that someone listened to me.
It settled after the meds were changed. I still get it occasionally, but now I know what it is, I just keep an eye on things. I have an oximeter, because I also have COPD and have to be on the ball.

I have only just come back to this thread Marydoll and seen your post. I've got an Oxymeter so will measure my oxygen levels when it happens and take it from there.

Thank you so much for this information.

I get this. I agree with Nemos Mum, every now & then your lungs just need that bigger intake and so you do it involuntarily!
I also sometimes just sort of sigh, which I believe to be something to do with concentration and needing to expunge a bit more breath!

I've suddenly developed this in the last two weeks. I had a heart attack three months ago so may be connected with that, I'm seeing cardiologist this week so going to mention it to him.

lemsip

is it as if you have been crying but you haven't. you get a sort of hu hu breath, like a catch up breath. I get this.

That is a very good description of what I get.

People forget how to breathe. People don’t pay attention to their breathing, especially seniors. I discovered it myself when I realized I was doing shallow breathing. It’s about EXHALING properly.

An awareness of how you fill your lungs and exhale is all you need to know. And mostly it’s about getting maximum oxygen exchange in your system.

Inhale (through your nose) slowly and fill your lungs to FULL capacity. Hold your breath for 5-7 seconds, then exhale (through you nose or mouth, slowly) Repeat this exercise 2 or 3 times. Then repeat this process several times a day.

You will instantly feel fresher, clearer, this helps your blood circulation too! Athletes do this kind of breathing exercise before an event. You can do this on your own several times a day while walking, gardening, shopping… I find that it’s especially helpful when I’m having trouble falling asleep. At night it has a calming effect.
USA Gundy

I have brittle asthma and bronchiectasis and shallow breathing never bothered me.
I knew this was a totally different feeling.

Have you had any operations lately? It happened to me after gallbladder removed. I was constantly doing this and it was due to operation and took months to stop.

missdeke

I do this all the time and I don't suffer from anxiety. I do have mild COPD though, and I have been told that I am a shallow breather. My heart is fine and my oxygen levels ok considering the COPD, it's just something I do to compensate for shallow breathing apparently.

I'm the same asthmatic, shallow breather, never been concerned about it

I think if you are concerned I would speak to your GP, and if it’s nothing to worry about then good!

sharonarnott I'm sorry to hear your experience was similar to mind. To be told on this thread that It's NORMAL is disrespectful. No it is not normal and should not be dismissed as trivial, until proven otherwise.
I was told that if I hadn't been admitted to hospital, after my GP and cardiologist listened to me, I would have been in a life threatening situation. I count myself very fortunate indeed.

I get that, it turned out for me to be heart problems. Better to get it checked out by a doctor rather than ask other people. It causes more worrying to hear all the different theories

I noticed this after I had a gall bladder and bile duct infection about twelve years ago, so I put it down to my diaphragm being affected, too. However, I agree with others that it happens most when I'm totally relaxed, so I now believe it's a result of shallow breathing. I'm quite active and don't have any breathing problems normally - don't get out of breath etc - so I just ignore it. Take care.