What is "Air Hunger"???

[Melbury]

Reading through the posts yesterday I noticed somebody refer to "air hunger" and just wondered what this is.  Since being diagnosed with underactive thyroid and, coincidentally, stopping smoking at about the same time, I have had a continual what I call "gnawing" feeling in my stomach, almost like constant hunger.  Do you think this could be the same thing as air hunger?  By the way, even though it is now three months since I quit smoking, I have never felt so unwell in my life!!!!

[meggy21]

I think what your talking about is hyperventilating what I was told is to breathe into a paper bag so carbon dioxide and oxygen level out

[thirtyearswithsickmom]

I have it too.  Its aweful.  I now  have anxiety because i feel like i cant get my nice satisfying deep breath.  I dont know what to do.  I have had this weeks before my Dad passed away from cancer and it hasnt left.  I feel like i could go crazy somedays.   :(

[guitargirl5157]

I have severe air hunger. It has nothing to do with "hunger" or a feeling of needing to take something, or ingest something. It is the sensation that you simply cannot get enough air. Every breath falls short of feeling like a complete breath. It can sometimes feel like your diaphram isn't working and you can't get it to do it's job well enough to take a complete breath. For me it is a constant feeling like I'm going to pass out because I just can't get enough air. I'm not wheezing, or choking. but, the air I take in doesn't feel like it's meeting my bodies need for oxygen. It is exhausting and debilitating.

[Melbury]

Well I think it should have adjusted in three months.  I know it's bad for you, but boy do I miss it - especially with all of the stress in finding out my thyroid gland has packed up!

[stella5349]

Are you feeling unwell - or is your body adjusting the the change of not smoking and you are starting to rid yourself of the addiction?

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM .... food for thought.

[Melbury]

Thanks for your comments, but it is now three months since I stopped smoking, surely I shouldn't be getting these gnawing pains now!  Must admit though "air hunger" is a great description of what I feel like - just a craving sensation.  Have been saying today that I might even start smoking again, as I have felt so unwell since stopping - just doesn't seem worth it!

[Melbury]

I have read Allen Carr's book, but not until I had actually stopped smoking.  Didn't find it very useful to be honest and if I hadn't already stopped, I don't think reading it would have made me.  But thanks for the info about air hunger.

[marshmallow]

Read Allan Carr's the easy way to stop smoking.
He talks of that sensation of being slightly off, slightly hungry, but not hunger. this is what he means by the air hunger after stopping smoking. it is the missing of the nicotine.

[borninquisitive]

I can't speak for anyone but think I experienced this post tonsillectomy. For me, I would breath (in) but fell short of a true inhale (not enough air in my lungs). For me, I felt like I had to breath in twice to equal a true breath in. This abated after a week or so. It caused an anxiety. It was very distressing.

[ChitChatNine]

This is a search I found on google ... but not sure about its relavence to thyroid? smoking?  Didn't read thru it thoroughly.

Air hunger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Air hunger is the sensation of the urge to breathe. It is usually caused by the detection of high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood by sensors in the carotid sinus and is one of the body's homeostatic mechanisms to ensure proper oxygenation. Natural chemicals in the blood such as epinephrine (adrenaline) can also induce an urge to breathe by a separate pathway. Insufficient pulmonary minute ventilation, a sustained breath-hold, constriction of the alveoli of the lungs as in asthma or high ambient levels of carbon dioxide in the air breathed can cause air hunger resulting in a respiratory distress condition characterized by dyspnea, labored breathing or gasping. Air hunger can be very distressing and triggers strong reactions to restore breathing.

In mammals (with the notable exception of seals and some burrowing mammals), the breathing reflex is triggered by excess of carbon dioxide rather than lack of oxygen, so asphyxiation progresses in oxygen-deprived environments, such as storage vessels purged with nitrogen or helium balloons, without the victim experiencing air hunger.

[Thypatient]

That's great news!!

Everyone I've ever known who stopped smoking, alcohol, any kind of drug, etc. has always said this.  It does pass so just hang on.  Since you obviously go online maybe there is a stopped smoking forum you could find.

Maybe if you enter the term 'air hunger' into the search box in the upper right corner of this forum page it will help you.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

[nissah46]

A girl who works for us quit smoking last year.  She got bad migranes and had symptoms of stroke. The doctors said it was withdrawal. She had been on the patch, but I think she was sneaking a few smokes.  Unfortunately she started smoking again. Good luck.