We include products we think are useful for our readers. You can also take nondrowsy antihistamines.

Apnea can affect people of all ages, and the cause depends on the type of apnea you have. If you experience any of these emergency symptoms, seek immediate medical attention: Last medically reviewed on December 8, 2017. It can lead to the throat muscles relaxing so much that they block your airway.

If it’s more than five times an hour, your doctor will discuss treatment options depending on severity and what might be causing it. Obstructive sleep apnea can be a dangerous medical condition and requires treatment. This can block your airway, which triggers the coughing and gasping reflex. When you’re snoring with your mouth wide open, it’s not just your bed partner who can point it out—how your mouth feels in the morning can give you a clue, too. Alexa is a Denver-based contributor who covers all things lifestyle, wellness, travel, home, and beauty. How is waking up gasping for air treated? You can do a lot of prep work to make the perfect sleep environment. In fact, with a common condition called sleep apnea—which can affect up to seven percent of adult men—you might actually stop breathing in your sleep, explains David M. Rapoport, M.D., research director at the Mount Sinai Health System Integrative Sleep Center. This isn’t a specific type of headache, but it usually goes away within an hour or two of awakening, as your brain gets the oxygen it needs after a night of struggling. It branches into the right and left pulmonary…, Within the body, there are a total of four pulmonary veins, and all of them connect to the left atrium of the heart. Picture this: Your throat is a collapsible tube, like a garden hose. Exhaustion is one of the biggest symptoms of sleep apnea. Top answers from doctors based on your search: Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now — wait time is less than 1 minute! Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. does struggle with anxiety, but isn't medicated. It can lead to the throat muscles relaxing so much that they block your airway. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Use nasal sprays or breathing strips to keep air flowing if you have sinus problems or … These stops—or apneas—last at least 10 seconds, but are typically 20 to 30 seconds or longer. Oral appliances, which bring your jaw forward to open up your airway, may also be an option. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. But it doesn't last long.

Talk therapy with a therapist can also be beneficial to help identify the cause and triggers of anxiety or panic attacks and find ways to manage the symptoms. When you’re awake, the muscles of your throat contract to stiffen your airway and keep it from collapsing when you suck in air. If you otherwise feel fine or if your symptoms subside soon, you can go back to sleep. Attacks can occur while sleeping without any obvious trigger.

"When you have that much air flow through the mouth, you don't have as much saliva production, so your mouth has a tendency to get dried out," explains Dr. Breus. 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. Pulmonary edema occurs when excess fluid collects in air spaces and tissue in the lungs. This can lead the person to wake up choking, coughing, and gasping for breath. Early treatment can help reduce your risks. my breathing feels a lot slower than usual, to the point where i get afraid that it may stop. You may have a heavy feeling in your chest.

Do you feel compelled to do this? These include: Avoid eating for two to three hours before bed. Waking up gasping for air can be jarring. Sometimes when this occurs, your muscles will be tense, causing you to gasp for air. The 24 Best Face Masks For Outdoor Workouts, Michael K. Williams on HBO's 'Lovecraft Country', This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Heart failure is a chronic disease and will need consistent on-going treatment.

Surgery can also include treating the damage from heart failure, like a heart valve replacement. They’re also sometimes called hypnic jerks.

“Since your sleep is being severely disturbed, most of these people fall asleep at the drop of a hat,” says Dr. Rapoport.

Your airway occasionally collapses when you try to take a breath, meaning you’re not getting in any oxygen. “Your brain has to be awake for a full 30 seconds in order to recognize that it’s actually awake,” says Michael Breus, M.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and SleepScore Labs advisory board member. Hypnagogic jerks can be treated with lifestyle changes, including: Reducing stress and caffeine can also help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders.