Why am I waking up gasping for breath?
Fact Checked
Intus Healthcare’s writers, customer service team, and sleep experts review and ensure this information is accurate.
Last updated on January 6th, 2025 at 02:45 pm
Waking up gasping for breath can be a frightening experience, leaving you confused and anxious about what might be causing it.
From Sleep Apnoea to anxiety, there are many potential reasons, and identifying the cause is key to finding the right solution.
Table of Contents
Why You Might Be Waking Up Gasping for Breath: 12 Possible Causes
If you wake up gasping for air during the night, it shouldn’t be something you ignore, as it can be a sign of a serious health condition.
Here are some of the most common causes:
1. Sleep Apnoea: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the most common type of Sleep Apnoea; it happens when the tongue or soft tissue collapses to the back of the throat. This movement reduces the airflow by obstructing the airway, limiting oxygen, and causing the sufferer to wake up and gasp for air.
Another type of condition is Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA), a lesser-known type of Sleep Apnoea characterised by the brain failing to signal the requirement to breathe during sleep. This results in little to no airflow to the lungs, causing a person to wake up gasping for breath.
Sleep Apnoea affects millions worldwide; many are unaware they have the condition. It has been reported that around 13% of men and 6% of women aged 30-75 in the UK have Sleep Apnoea (1).
The Sleep Apnoea Test
A quick and easy way to confirm if you do or do not have Sleep Apnoea is by taking a sleep test.
The test requires one night of sleep data, and the results are sent to you within two working days.
If Sleep Apnoea is detected, our in-house clinicians can walk you through your treatment options and answer any questions you may have.
2. Acid Reflux: Acid reflux is associated with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which causes stomach acid to flow back into the throat. Certain foods and lifestyle choices can increase the risk and symptoms of acid reflux.
3. Anxiety and panic attacks: Feeling anxious or experiencing nighttime panic attacks can cause you to wake up gasping, resulting in night sweats and your heart pounding.
4. Post-Nasal Drip: This is also known as upper airway cough syndrome, occurring when mucus drips down the throat, irritating the throat and causing a cough.
When experienced during sleep, it can cause you to wake up gasping as the mucus blocks the airflow. Post-nasal drip is common during the colder months caused by a common cold, sinus infection, or seasonal allergies.
5. Heart failure: When the heart stops effectively pumping blood around the body, it is known as congestive heart failure. Reduced blood flow can cause fluid buildup in the lungs, making breathing harder when sleeping and can result in waking up gasping during sleep. It is also important to note that it is estimated that around 50-80% of people with heart failure have a sleep condition such as Sleep Apnoea (2).
6. Asthma: Those with undiagnosed or untreated asthma can often experience waking up gasping and feeling breathless, which can be triggered by their sleeping position or an allergy.
7. COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an inflammatory lung disease causing difficulty breathing during the day and night.
Over 75% of individuals with COPD report nighttime symptoms and difficulty sleeping (3). Research has found that the risk of developing COPD was significantly higher in current smokers and former smokers than in non-smokers (4).
8. Hypnic Jerks: These are sudden and involuntary muscle jerks or twitch sensations experienced when falling asleep. Hypnic jerks or ‘sleep starts’ are usually triggered by a sensation of falling, hearing a bang or seeing flashing lights as you fall asleep.
These random jerks can sometimes be intense reactions or mild and hardly noticeable, which can lead to brief feelings of breathlessness or gasping.
9. Sleep Paralysis: Like hypnic jerks, sleep paralysis can cause an involuntary muscle reaction. Rather than causing movements, it causes the inability to move when partially waking up during sleep, which can result in gasping for air due to the distress.
It is believed that sleep paralysis happens when the brain partially wakes up, while the body remains paralyzed from sleep. Symptoms include the inability to speak, move arms and legs, and feeling sensations of pressure on the chest, such as suffocation.
10. Lung fibrosis: Also known as pulmonary fibrosis, lung tissue becomes scarred, causing stiffness and making breathing harder. This can lead to difficulty catching your breath, causing gasping for breath during sleep.
11. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (PND): If you experience shortness of breath during sleep, you could have PND. The condition causes a person to wake up gasping as they lose the ability to breathe during sleep.
12. Pulmonary oedema: This condition is the buildup of fluid in the lungs, leading to a lack of oxygen. A common symptom includes difficulty breathing when lying down, which can result in gasping during sleep.
Please note all conditions mentioned can be extremely serious and should be addressed as soon as symptoms occur.
Related articles:
Why do I have shortness of breath at night?
Treatments and Remedies
Sleep Apnoea: The treatment for Sleep Apnoea depends on the type and its severity. For many people, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is the most appropriate option. CPAP therapy consists of a machine and mask that delivers continuous airflow to keep the airway open during sleep.
Intus Plus – CPAP therapy for just £49 per month
Our Intus Plus subscription service includes leading CPAP equipment, regular clinical consultations, remote monitoring, a success guarantee and more!
Our affordable service makes treating Sleep Apnoea simple. With our support, we’re confident that you will start enjoying your sleep and daily life again.
Other treatments include an oral device, known as a mandibular advancement device (MAD) and positional sleep therapy.
MADs gently pull the lower jaw forward, creating more space at the back of the throat to prevent airway closure. Positional treatment typically consists of a small device worn on the forehead or chest that lightly vibrates when rolling onto your back during sleep. This vibration encourages the user to roll back onto their side to keep the airway open.
Acid reflux: For most people, their symptoms worsen after eating and drinking certain food and drinks; limiting these triggers can help to reduce your symptoms:
- Acidic foods e.g.tomatoes
- Spicy foods
- Salted foods
- Caffeine from chocolate, tea or coffee.
- Alcoholic drinks
- Fizzy drinks
Other lifestyle adjustments that can help include:
- Elevating your head during sleep
- Quitting smoking
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Wearing loose clothing
Anxiety and panic attacks: If you are diagnosed with a panic disorder or anxiety, you may be prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.
However, there are home remedies to help with these conditions, including breathing techniques such as meditation and yoga, to help relax the body before falling asleep.
Post-nasal drip: If you’re feeling congested and experience symptoms of post-nasal drip, there are a few ways you can ease your discomfort:
- Elevating your head during the night.
- Steam Inhalation
- Nasal sprays
- Drinking hot drinks
- Antihistamines or decongestants.
SinuPulse Elite Nasal Irrigator
SinuPulse Traveller Nasal Irrigator
Heart failure: Treatment for this condition is usually aimed to slow down the progression and control the symptoms, you may be recommended:
- Medicine
- Lifestyle changes including eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly.
- Chest implants to control the heart rhythm.
Asthma: An inhaler or nebuliser may be recommended to manage your asthma symptoms. These small devices deliver medication in a quick and easy-to-use pump.
Alternatively, some lifestyle changes can also help, such as changing your sleeping position and managing any allergy triggers.
Hypnic jerks: There is no clear cause of these jerks, but some possible ways to reduce symptoms include:
- Reducing stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine before bed.
- You can reduce stress levels by participating in yoga, mindfulness, and other relaxation techniques.
- Creating a bedtime routine.
- Reducing the use of blue light before bed, as blue light from electronic devices can interrupt the body’s circadian rhythm.
Sleep paralysis: Treatment depends on the reason for your sleep paralysis; you could be recommended:
- Medications such as antidepressants.
- Improving your sleeping habits, such as creating a routine and not consuming alcohol and caffeine before bed.
- Reducing your stress levels.
- Talkingto a mental health professional if you feel extremely stressed and need help managing this.
Lung fibrosis: If you are diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, there are treatments to manage symptoms such as:
- Medicines to reduce lung inflammation and scarring.
- Oxygen supplementation
- Breathing techniques
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea: PND is often associated with underlying health conditions; therefore, it is essential to understand the root cause before treatment can be started. Treatments can include:
- Oxygen therapy
- CPAP therapy
- Medications like beta blockers and diuretics
- Inhalers or nebulisers
- Lifestyle changes such as exercising and improving your diet.
Pulmonary oedema: As this is a serious condition, it is usually treated in the hospital. You may be given:
- Oxygen through a face mask
- A breathing tube
An underlying condition usually causes oedema; if this is identified, specific treatment may be required.
Summary
Waking up gasping occasionally is not always a cause for concern; however, if this happens frequently and you notice other alerting symptoms, you should seek medical advice. If untreated, it can lead to serious health complications.
Should you display symptoms of Sleep Apnoea please get in touch with us as we are experts in this field. We offer a wealth of knowledge, testing options and treatment methods to help you.
About Our Editorial Team
Written By,
Danielle Mahri, Staff Writer
Danni is a degree-educated content writer who works closely with our clinical and customer services teams to ensure every article is well-researched and accurate. Each article is written to educate, help, and advise on Sleep Apnoea, spread awareness, and encourage treatment.
Medically Reviewed By,
Jay Gadher, Clinical Manager
Jay is an experienced Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Scientist. He completed his BSc in Healthcare Science, which has allowed him to gain expertise in scoring sleep studies. His knowledge and insights about sleep science and human health ensure every article reflects the latest data.
References
- Sleep Apnoea Trust. 2020) Research: How many people in the UK have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)? Available at: https://sleep-apnoea-trust.org/research/. Accessed: 13.11.2024.
- Khayat R, Small R, Rathman L, Krueger S, Gocke B, Clark L, Yamokoski L, Abraham WT. (2013). Sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure: identifying and treating an important but often unrecognized comorbidity in heart failure patients. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3690313/. Accessed: 13.11.2024.
- Agusti A, Hedner J, Marin JM, Barbé F, Cazzola M, Rennard S. (2011). Night-time symptoms: a forgotten dimension of COPD. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21881146/. Accessed: 13.11.2024.
- Chung C, Lee KN, Han K, Shin DW, Lee SW. Effect of smoking on the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young individuals: a nationwide cohort study. (2023). Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10428618/. Accessed: 13.11.2024.