Why Am I Waking Up Gasping for Air?
Waking up in the middle of the night and realizing that you were gasping for air during sleep can be scary and something you shouldnt ignore. It can be a sign of a serious health problem. And if you do find yourself waking feeling short of breath, dont assume right away that its sleep apnea. Gasping at night can be caused by a lot of things, says otolaryngologist Omar G. Ahmed, MD, who specializes in treating sleep disorders at Houston Methodist Hospital. The key to finding out whats causing your nighttime gasping is to see a sleep specialist, who will perform a physical exam and ask a lot of questions. A sleep specialist may suspect sleep apnea as the cause of your gasping, but you might be surprised by the variety of other potential causes.