choking awake

I wake-up  - startled - feeling like I'm choking - almost every night.  I am not overweight; alcohol is not a factor.  This only happens if I sleep on my back.  It seems that I'm in a dream where I can't breathe/choking and then I gasp for air and then "really" wake-up.

Could this be sleep apnea?  My late-father had sleep apnea but he was overweight.  (when he went to the sleep clinic he actually flatlined - very scary but the cpap machine worked wonders for him.)

I would hate to waste the $$ to go to the doctor if it isn't something "real".

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Is does sound like you're having sleep-breathing problems, especially since your father has obstructive sleep apnea. An obstruction has to last 10 seconds or longer for it to be called an apnea. You can stop breathing 25 times per hour but if you wake up between 1-9 seconds, then you're told you don't have sleep apnea. Also, if you stop breathing for 34 seconds once every hour, then unless it happens at least 5 times per hour, you don't officially have sleep apnea.

Start by not sleeping on your back, and avoiding eating or drinking alcohol within 3-4 hours of bedtime. If your problems continue, you should see a sleep medicine doctor.

[clare7]

I know my husband has sleep paralysis. he hasnt been diagnosed but he has all the symptoms. At night he starts breathing heavy and uneven. hes really awake but hes unable to move his body. like once every 10 times when this happens he says that there is someone over him choking him and put weight on his chest. The research that we have done on the internet says that theres nothing that can be done abt it. I hope this helps.