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My Breathing sometimes come to a halt
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Lung & Breathing Conditions
Question #11540
51 days ago
147

My Breathing sometimes come to a halt - #11540

Kayla

Sometimes I find myself not breathing when I’m doing things on my day to day routine. Is that normal? It doesn’t affect anything like make me lightheaded, but I find myself doing this a lot. Is there anything that I need to be worried about

Age: 29
Chronic illnesses: No
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Dr. Nirav Jain
I am a qualified medical doctor with MBBS and DNB Diploma in Family Medicine from NBEMS, and my work has always been centered on treating patients in a complete, not just symptom based way. During my DNB training I rotated through almost every core department—Internal medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency medicine. That mix gave me the skill to manage acute illness, long term disease and preventive care together, something I find very important in family practice. In psychiatry I worked closely with patients who struggled with depression, anxiety, stress related problems, insomnia or substance use. I learned not just about medication but also about simple psychotherapy tools, psycho education and how to talk openly without judgement. I still use that exp in family medicine, specially when chronic disease patients also face mental health issues. My time in General surgery included assisting in minor and major procedures, managing wounds, abscess, sutures and emergencies. While I am not a surgeon, this gave me confidence to recognize surgical cases early, provide first line care and refer fast when needed, which makes a big difference in online or OPD settings. Now I work as a consultant in General medicine and Family practice, with focus on both in-person and online consultation. I treat conditions like fever, infections, gastrointestinal complaints, respiratory illness, and also manage diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and lifestyle related chronic diseases. I see women for PCOS, contraception counseling, menstrual health, and children for common pediatric issues. I also dedicate time to preventive health, lifestyle counseling and diet-sleep-exercise advice, since these small changes affect long term wellness more than we often realize. My key skills include holistic diagnosis, evidence based treatment, chronic disease management, mental health support, preventive medicine and telemedicine communiation. At the center of all this is one thing—patients should feel heard, safe, and guided with care that is both professional and personal.
51 days ago
5

Hello Kayla,

Thank you for reaching out, I understand your concern and I’ll guide you.

So, this is happening only whole doing some activity.

You need to tell me any chest pain, palpitations (feeling your own heartbeat over chest), swelling in legs, or sleep related issues ?

And you’ve already cleared that you don’t have any chronic illnesses.

Many people occasionally hold their breath unconsciously while concentrating, stressed or doing activities.

If you’re not having dizziness, fainting or other symptoms, it’s often harmless and related to habit, stress or anxiety.

When to worry and get yourself tested - 1. Chest pain or tightness. 2. Shortness of breath on physical activity. 3. Palpitations ot Blackout

My advice - 1. Try to be conscious of your breathing pattern, especially while focusing on tasks. 2. Practice slow deep breathing 5-10 mins/day. 3. Reduce stress, caffeine & ensure proper sleep.

(If you are having any form of stress or anxiety and need support feel free to reach out to my profile and I’ll be more than happy to help as I’ve ample experience in treating such conditions)

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Dr. Abhishek Gill
I am a doctor with 5 years total experience, mostly split between Emergency and Obstetrics & Gynaecology—and honestly both keep you on your toes in totally different ways. In the ER, you don’t get time to second-guess much. Things come at you fast—trauma, active bleeding, breathlessness, collapsed vitals—and you learn to think, act, then think again. But in Obs/Gyn, it’s more layered. One moment you’re handling routine antenatal care, the next you're managing obstructed labour at 3am with everything depending on timing. I try not to treat anyone like "just another case." I take proper history—like actual, detailed listening—and then move step by step. Exam, investigations only if needed (not just because), and explaining things clearly to the patient and attenders. Not gonna lie, sometimes I do repeat myself twice or thrice. People are stressed, they don’t hear it all the first time. Communication I’d say is one of my stronger areas, but not in some fancy textbook way. Just knowing *how* to talk, when to pause, when not to overload info. Like with a first-time mother in pain who doesn’t care about medical terms—she just wants to know if her baby’s okay. Those moments taught me more about medicine than most of my exams. I handle postpartum issues, early pregnancy complications, PCOD, menstrual complaints, emergency contraception consults too—bit of everything. And in casualty shifts, I’ve done everything from inserting Ryle’s tubes to managing hypertensive crises. You have to stay sharp. But also know when to slow down and re-evalutate something that doesn’t fit right. Counselling’s part of the job too. Sometimes patients need reassurance more than a prescription. Sometimes they just need honesty, even if the answer isn't simple. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do care enough to find them. Bit by bit. Every single day.
51 days ago
5

Hello Kayla, Your symptoms cab be due to some allergy, compromised lung functions.

I suggest you to visit Pulmonologist for further evaluation and management. You should start treatment only after thorough examination, detailed history and investigations.

Take care.

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Dr. Perambalur Ayyadurai Rohith
I am a general physician with more than 10 yr of clinical experiance, and in this time I worked with patients from all age groups, from young kids to elderly with multiple chronic issues. My practice has been wide, but I gradually developed deeper intrest in diabetology. I spend much of my day focusing on prevention, early diagnosis and management of diabetes, using lifestyle modification, medical therapy and regular monitoring. Many patients come worried about complications, and I try to explain things in simple language, whether it is diet, excercise, or understanding lab reports, so they dont feel lost. I also conduct detailed diagnostic evaluation and use evidence based protocols to make sure treatment is reliable and updated, even if sometimes I double check myself when results dont match the clinical picture. Apart from regular OPD practice, I gained strong experiance in occupational health. Over years I worked with multiple companies handling pre employment checks, annual medical exams, workplace wellness programs, and ensuring compliance with industrial health and safety standards. It is diffrent from hospital practice, but equally important, because healthy workers mean safe and productive workplace. I run medical surveillance programs and health awareness sessions in collaboration with corporates, and this also gave me exposure to preventive strategies on a large scale. For me, patient care is not just treatment but building trust. My career revolve around preventive medicine, ethical clinical practice, and continuous learning. I keep myself updated with modern medical protocols, but I also value listening to patient worries, since medicine is not only about lab values but also about how a person feels in daily life. I make mistakes in words sometimes, but in my work I try to be very precise. At end of day, my aim is to provide care that is accessible, evidence based and truly centered on patient well being.
51 days ago
5

1.Brief pauses in breathing during daily activities can sometimes be due to anxiety, stress, or habit (like breath holding while concentrating).

2.If it doesn’t cause dizziness, fainting, or chest pain, it’s often not dangerous but still worth monitoring.

3.Rule out sleep apnea (pauses during sleep), asthma, or nasal blockage if symptoms also happen at night.

4.Practice mindful breathing, yoga, or relaxation techniques to improve awareness of your breath.

5.If pauses increase, or you develop shortness of breath, chest tightness, or daytime fatigue, consult a physician or pulmonologist for lung/heart evaluation.

181 answered questions
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Dr. Bharat Joshi
I’m a periodontist and academician with a strong clinical and teaching background. Over the last 4 years and 8 months, I’ve been actively involved in dental education, guiding students at multiple levels including dental hygienist, BDS, and MDS programs. Currently, I serve as a Reader at MMCDSR in Ambala, Haryana—a role that allows me to merge my academic passion with hands-on experience. Clinically, I’ve been practicing dentistry for the past 12 years. From routine procedures like scaling and root planing to more advanced cases involving grafts, biopsies, and implant surgeries. Honestly, I still find joy in doing a simple RCT when it’s needed. It’s not just about the procedure but making sure the patient feels comfortable and safe. Academically, I have 26 research publications to my credit. I’m on the editorial boards of the Archives of Dental Research and Journal of Dental Research and Oral Health, and I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing manuscripts—from case reports to meta-analyses and even book reviews. I was honored to receive the “Best Editor” award by Innovative Publications, and Athena Publications recognized me as an “excellent reviewer,” which honestly came as a bit of a surprise! In 2025, I had the opportunity to present a guest lecture in Italy on traumatic oral lesions. Sharing my work and learning from peers globally has been incredibly fulfilling. Outside academics and clinics, I’ve also worked in the pharmaceutical sector as a Drug Safety Associate for about 3 years, focusing on pharmacovigilance. That role really sharpened my attention to detail and deepened my understanding of drug interactions and adverse effects. My goal is to keep learning, and give every patient and student my absolute best.
51 days ago
5

Hello dear See as per clinical history it seems either decrease in breathing capacity due to inherent health issues or weak lungs I am suggesting some tests for confirmation Please share the results with pulmonary surgeon for better clarification Fevi1/fev2 test Respiratory efficiency CBC X ray chest Chest ultrasound Please share the details with concerned physician only and take any medications upon recommendation from concerned physician only Hopefully you recover soon Regards

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Intermittent pauses in your breathing can be concerning, and it’s good you’re paying attention to it. While occasional cessation of breath during activities can occur, it’s important to differentiate whether this might be a pattern or if there are any underlying conditions. Sometimes, people hold their breath during activities that require concentration or exertion, a phenomenon that’s fairly common and usually not harmful if brief and infrequent. However, regular episodes of halted breathing could indicate a condition like sleep apnea, even if it doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms during the day. Sleep apnea, for example, tends to manifest more prominently during sleep but could indicate other issues contributing to daytime symptoms. If you’re experiencing frequent or sustained periods where you stop breathing, even without immediate adverse effects like lightheadedness or fatigue, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider. They can perform a thorough check-up, considering if tests like a sleep study or pulmonary function tests might be warranted based on further findings. To start, track when these episodes occur, note any potential triggers or patterns, and be honest about any lifestyle factors like stress or anxiety, since these can unconsciously alter breathing patterns. Pay attention to whether factors like anxiety or particular tasks trigger more frequent incidents. While it might not be immediately worrying, ruling out underlying issues is essential for your peace of mind and health.

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