Breathing - slowed or stopped

Definition

Breathing that slows down or stops from any cause is called apnea. Apnea can come once in a while and be temporary. This tends to occur with obstructive sleep apnea. Prolonged apnea is means a person has stopped breathing. This is also called respiratory arrest.

Alternative Names

Respiration slowed or stopped; Not breathing; Respiratory arrest; Apnea

Considerations

Prolonged apnea (respiratory arrest) is a life-threatening disorder that requires immediate medical attention and first aid.

If a person with any type of apnea turns blue, has a seizure, becomes limp, remains drowsy, or is unconscious, immediately seek medical attention.

Apnea can occur for many different reasons. The most common causes of apnea in infants and small children are generally quite different from the most common causes in adults.

In infants and children, the most common cause of cardiac arrest (lack of an effective heartbeat) is respiratory arrest. In adults, the opposite usually occurs: Cardiac arrest leads to respiratory arrest.

Causes

Common causes of apnea in infants and young children include:

Common causes of apnea in adults include:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Choking
  • Drug overdose, especially drugs such as alcohol, narcotic pain killers, barbiturates, anesthetics, and other depressants (See also:  Drug abuse first aid)
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Asthma or other lung diseases

Other causes of apnea include:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

If a person has stopped breathing, call for emergency help and perform CPR   (if you know how).

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

CPR or other emergency measures will be done in an emergency room or by an ambulance EMT (emergency medical technician).

Once the patient is stable, the doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions about the person's medical history. Questions may include:

  • Time pattern
    • Has this ever happened before?
    • How long did the event last?
    • Has the person had repeated, brief episodes of apnea?
    • Did the episode end with a sudden deep snorting breath?
    • Did the episode occur while awake or asleep?
  • Recent heath history
    • Has there been any recent history of an accident or injury?
    • Has the person been ill recently?
    • Had there been any breathing difficulty before the breathing stopped?
    • What other symptoms are also present?
    • What medication does the person take?
    • Does the person use street drugs?

The doctor will listen to the person's  heart sounds and breath sounds. Diagnostic tests may be performed. They include:

Review Date: 3/21/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.
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