Breathing - slowed or stopped Health Article

Definition

Breathing that slows down or stops from any cause is called apnea.

Alternative Names

Respiration slowed or stopped; Not breathing; Respiratory arrest; Apnea

Considerations

Apnea can come and go and be temporary. This can occur with obstructive sleep apnea, for example.

Prolonged apnea means a person has stopped breathing. If the heart is still active, the condition is known as respiratory arrest. This is a life-threatening event that requires immediate medical attention and first aid.

Prolonged apnea accompanied by lack of any heart activity in a person who is not responsive is called cardiac (or cardiopulmonary) arrest. In infants and children, the most common cause of cardiac arrest is respiratory arrest. In adults, the opposite usually occurs: Cardiac arrest leads to respiratory arrest.

Common Causes

Apnea can occur for many different reasons. The most common causes of apnea in infants and small children are generally quite different from the most common causes in adults.

Common causes of apnea in infants and young children include:

• Asthma
• Bronchiolitis
• Choking
• Encephalitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn)
• Holding one's breath
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Premature birth
• Seizures

Common causes of apnea in adults include:

• Asthma or other lung diseases
• Cardiac arrest
• Choking
• Drug overdose, especially due to alcohol, narcotic painkillers, barbiturates, anesthetics, and other depressants (See: Drug abuse first aid)
• Obstructive sleep apnea

Other causes of apnea include:

• Head or brain-stem injury
• Irregular heartbeat (See:arrhythmias)
• Metabolic disorders
• Near-drowning
• Stroke and other neurological disorders

Call your health care provider if

See immediate medical attention or call your local emergency number (such as 911) if a person with any type of apnea:

• Becomes limp
• Has a seizure
• Is not alert (loses consciousness)
• Remains drowsy
• Turns blue

If a person has stopped breathing, call for emergency help and perform CPR (if you know how). When in a public place, look for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and follow the directions.