Excessive gasping and yawning for air

jobane · 02-08-2005, 03:19 PM

Hi. This is the second time in my 28 years of living that this happens. The first time lasted only a couple of days and then went away. This was around 2 years ago. And now I'm almost to a week of excessive yawning and gasping. As if I'm short of breath. Sometimes I think is psychological or a voluntary action. But I'm doing it thoughout my entire day. I've timed it to about once every 2 minutes or so. Most of the times its just an attempt to yawn or gasp. And once I do it, I'll go a few minutes longer without having to gasp again. Does anyone know what may be causing this?

annarayne · 02-08-2005, 03:50 PM

i have no clue but i had the exact same problem for over a month back around nov/dec. i felt like it was my throat though, the muscles wouldn't do what they were supposed to to let the air in. breathing out i was ok, it was inhaling.. is that the same for you? i still get it now and then but nothing like before so i don't worry about it. have you seen a doctor? the first thing that comes to anyone's mind is anxiety and panick attack although, i don't think that's the case for either of us considering the length in time... i've never heard of a panick attack last a week. or a month in my case... i really felt it was my throat muscles.. although all they ever looked at were my lungs and those were just peachy (of course..).

jobane · 02-08-2005, 03:58 PM

Thanks for responding annarayne. I'm very worried and scared

I don't think it's a throat problem. Atleast, it doesn't feel to me like it is. As a matter of fact, it seems like it's just a normal reaction, except I'm doing it so excessively every day. I don't know... I was hoping I didn't have to go see a doctor, since I have no insurance. But I'm beginning to suspect this may need some attention. The funny thing is, everything else feels normal.

a1nerd · 02-08-2005, 04:08 PM

Go see a dr.

Sunlover · 02-08-2005, 06:31 PM

What exactly do you mean by "gasping"? Do you mean sighing or taking deep breaths? If so, that would be called "air hunger" and it's an anxiety or stress response. And the more you do it the more you feel you have to do it. If you actually MEAN gasping, then I have no clue.