Occasional gasp for breath

[banjo08]

Hi. Am a 69 years male and healthy. Keep myself fit. Have noticed I occasionally gasp for breath, especially when relaxed and watching TV, maybe slumped down on my easy chair. Wondering what it may be and if serious. Thanks in advance.

[PMRpro]

It's a normal physiological reaction and everyone does it but you tend not to notice except when you are sitting doing not a lot. It is thought that it sort of resets the part of the nervous system concerned with the chest muscles in some way.

[banjo08 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks a ton for your reassuring reply. Seems plausible.

[Hidden]

I get it occasionally. I have seen someone much younger getting. She had some cardiac issue, however.

[banjo08 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Appears harmless!!?

[Hidden in reply to banjo08]

It is probably something. I have got a few "SLE issues", so it could be from any of these. I tend to agree with PMRPro. It could be something to do with CNS/central nervous system. "Re-setting a switch" is a good one. But if you are known to have lung issues, it might be something related to this (?). Without knowing the type of SLE you may have...it would be harder to guess ? ?

[banjo08 in reply to Hidden]

No, I don't have any known SLE issues. Thanks

[MargaretGail]

I occasionally gasp too, I believe that it is totally harmless and just my bodies way of increasing oxygen levels now and again.

[banjo08 in reply to MargaretGail]

Thank you Margaret. Reassuring!

[GUITARGIBBO]

Some meds can cause bouts of breathlessness, I get that sometimes. It's like my diaphragm gets out of sync with my lungs for a few seconds which can feel strange! I think it's just as people are saying above, like it's a 're-set'.

[Wolf1]

Hi. Have you got lupus? I have and I unfortunately it’s affected my lungs. So I gasp a lot. Are you breathless doing everyday things?

[banjo08 in reply to Wolf1]

Hi Wolf1. No, I do not have Lupus nor do I get breathless easily. My lungs seem ok.

[nanleighh]

Many of us don’t breathe correctly, especially when slumped and not with good posture. Others hold their breath when concentrating. It’s the bodies natural physiological response to increase O2 as previously stated. Also people with anxiety tend to sigh a lot more due to tension. If you have lots of anxiety,I would say you probably should be seen by a physician. The best of luck to you.

[banjo08 in reply to nanleighh]

Thanks Nanleighh. Maybe because of not breathing properly or concentrating. I noticed it today while sitting and working on my computer, not really slumped. I have not been too anxious.

[Janet30176]

I did this gasping for breath for several years because Drs did not think it was anything to worry about. I did a sleep study in the lab which they say was normal but showed bouts of desaturation but still called normal. after another year or so i found another Dr who did a pulse ox while i slept and found that I had nocturnal desaturation. I am on O2 only at night and it has helped greatly. Yes I have SLE and i have shortness of breath during the day now but ddi not at the begining of it. I went to a lung Dr since I have been on O2 and she was threatening to take the nightly O2 away saying she could not find anything wrong. Never going back. If it really starts bothering you I would request another test.

[BillScotland]

I had this after a liver biopsy. The doctor had to go in twice through my ribs and I was in agony for 2 weeks. It has gradually lessened over 5 years. My lupus has given me severe pulmonary hypertension as well as AI hepatitis and nephritis.

I was advised to do breathing exercise to inflate my lungs one of which is pleuritic.

I suppose it's when we stop breathing we are in trouble!

Best wishes!

B

[banjo08 in reply to BillScotland]

Thanks Bill for your experience. Sorry to hear of your problems. My problem seems to be much milder, however, it suggests one needs to be alert to breathing properly at all times.