Question
Hello, I'm a 41 year old female and have been having a problem for a while now but is becoming more frequent. It always happens in the first hour after I fall asleep. I wake up feeling like I stopped breathing yet I'm screaming with my heart beating fast I feel scared. I thought it was happening more when I was exhausted and stressed but sometimes I don't feel either when it happens. I have had panic attacks before but it's been over ten years ago. What does this sound like to you? Is it medical or psychological? Thanks!
Answer
I you wake up short of breath it could be because you have sleep apnea, which can be accompanied by snoring, sometimes losing even 5 pounds helps. Also sleep on 2 pillows. If it persists go to a sleep center. Now the part while screaming believe it or not is natural phenomenon what happens is instead of our brain and body going to sleep and awakeing together there is a lag of a nano second, you are awake believe it or not but your body is still dreaming so dreams are so frightening and vivid. When this happens once in a while its normal phenomenon, but when your daytime sleep is impeded by it then it could be narcolepsy which I dont see you describing. Otherwise it happens normally you can try 3 hours before bedtime to stay away from tea, coffee, caffeine, caramel colored soda like coke, and pepsi, and exercise and alcohol and chocolate. All this makes for restless sleep. However if the feeling not being able to breathe persists and you are overweight it could be sleep apnea. Go to sleepnet.com click on narcolepsy, disorders and read about 2 of its symptoms, hypnangogic hallucination and sleep paralysis, which is the natural phenomenon symptom I was discussing aboe, then go to sleepnet.com click on disorders sleep apnea. Hope this helps, feel free to email again, karel
