My boyfriend actually stops breathing when in a deep sleep. I count the seconds and it is usually around 30 to 45 seconds before he starts breathing again. I know that this is not a particularly dangerous condition, but it affects my sleep because I am finally able to sleep through his regular snoring, only to find myself wide awake when the rhythm is interrupted.

Any suggestions?


I'm not in denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I accept.

I think my dad has something similar to this, he has some kind of machine thing that kees him breathing at night

From what I understand, it Is something he should be concerned about, and I would have it checked out.
It's just not normal to stop breathing.
..Also, and no offence intended, but I would think you'd be more concerned with 'him' and getting him help, than with your own interupted sleep patterns when he stops snoring.


loveis... 'timeless'...

Does he snore really hard?

I used to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea because my tonsils just fell back into my airway and blocks it. I snored like a buzzsaw and there were times I just stopped breathing.

I had my tonsils removed and it cleared right up.

p.s. try sewing a tennis ball to the back of his pyjama shirt.. it'll force him to sleep on his side and that opens up the airway and he'll breathe properly..

It is a dangerous. Please have him check into a sleep clinic.


Anatidaephobia: The fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.

Yeah, ducky's right. It puts an abnormal strain on the heart, and causes a person to be tired all the time as the oxygen level in the body is very low during sleep.

It may cause heart disease in future

This is correct. Apnea episodes can be caused by overweight. In this
cases you have too much subcutaneous fat in the region of the
trought. In case you friend is overweight he should try to loose
substantial weight. That may stop the thing already. Alcool
consumption has a reinforcing effect, he/she should not drink for the
time being. On the long run, the condition if not treated is causing
high blood pressure and can be responsable for permanent cardiac
insufficiency.
The condition is often associated to professional rugby players and
weight lifters because of the extremely developped muscle structure.
In this case the only solution would be a "Continuos Positive Airway
Pressure" machine called CPAP. This is a small pressure pump that
gives a little blow to pa** the muscular obstruction and to avvoid
therefore the apnea. Of course it is a bit invasive, so if no organic
problem is present and with weight loss you can come to a solution
the latter would be preferable.
I agree that you should contact a hospital. Apnea is more considered
a respiratory pathology then a sleep disorder. Therefore every
hospital of a bigger city should have the possiblity to evaluate you
with a one night recovery in the department of respiratory
pathologies. They usually count the apneas, they analyse the blood
gas compositon to see if you have a problem with correct oxigen
supply. They then will council.
Patients are not very compliant and do not want to go for an
evaluation. They are not aware of their problem. To convince your
friend it may help to know that there are symptoms that he may have
noticed: headaches in the morning, the feeling of waking up tired,
cronical fatigue during the first hours of the day. Urgent need to
take a nap already at about 10 am or so.
If one or more of these symptoms should be present you can tell him
that these are typical for airway obstruction pathologies.


"If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are." Tsun Zu (The Art of War)

As others have already pointed out, it CAN be a serious issue. I would send him to get a sleep study so he can be tested, diagnosed, and given whatever equipment & surgeries he needs in order to treat it. In the meantime, either prop his head up more OR make him sleep on his side. It helps with the lack of air through his passageways, which for many people usually decreases the frequency & loudness of the snoring.

Everyone is right. I was diagnosed with it. It was hard on my wife to see me struggle at night. Ruined her sleep as well. With my new insurance coverage, I was able to have a Sleep Study done. I was diagnosed as severe. 59 waking episodes an hour. Not getting rest and strain on the heart. I got a CPAP machine and after the first night, I was so refreshed...it really makes a difference. Good Luck.

For the record, sleep apnea IS a sleep disorder and IS typically diagnosed in a sleep disorders center, whether it be in a freestanding clinic or attached to a hospital. The doctors working there are usually pulmonologists, or psychiatrists, but there are other specialties who can be found within. If you're going for a CPAP or even surgical procedures, ESPECIALLY if you're submitting through any kind of insurance, then you must meet certain criteria . . . which can only be determined through a SLEEP study.

G'luck with your own sleep! I, too, would be a bit concerned about my partner's health, but your own insomnia caused by his own problem is not unheard of . . . 'tis oftentimes one of the main reasons why we get patients, i.e., their spouses dragged 'em in because they were having difficulty sleeping themselves. Might want to find another room (or the couch!) to sleep on for a bit.

Wow! Thanks for all the info guys! I was apparently previously misinformed as to the dangers of this condition.

Weight and alcohol don't seem to be a factor here, as he is at a healthy weight and a non-drinker. I have noticed that it happens primarily when he sleeps on his back, and a poke in the ribs usually gets him going again.

I will do my best to convince him to see someone about it. He can be stubborn sometimes tho. But I will persist as now I am concerned. Seems I have a new reason to lose sleep at night!


I'm not in denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I accept.

My uncle also has sleep apnea and it's scary for us all. I don't know a lot about it or how to cure it. I would recomend taking him to a doctor and getting him checked and getting professional advice. I also think that if you are awake while he's sleeping and you notice that he did stop breathing to maybe wake him up so that nothing happens. If you're sleeping while he's sleeping then I'm not sure.