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Weird intermittent quick inhale/exhale at random intervals

Posted by ljmontgo @ljmontgo, May 12, 2021

It rarely happens more than once in any giver hour but has been going on for weeks. I researched respiratory illnesses but couldn't find anything. Anyone have a clue what this might be?

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jimis65 | @jimis65 | Jan 11, 2023

Hi Orlanda

You and I have same issue, it irratates my son cause he sees there is no reason for it I feel there is when I see my lung specialist for first time I am going to ask that question

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sandwitt2 | @sandwitt2 | Apr 15, 2023

I’m having the same issue. A quick, random intake of breath- most often through my nose but sometimes through my mouth as well. I don’t feel sick, not overweight, eat healthy and exercise moderately. Would like to know what’s causing this

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kathy22 | @kathy22 | May 7, 2023
In reply to @loribmt "Hi @ljmontgo, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Those of us on Connect are not medical..." + (show)
@loribmt

Hi @ljmontgo, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Those of us on Connect are not medical professionals so we can’t diagnose conditions. However it is a place to learn from shared experiences and insights.
It looks like you’re not alone in having these intermittent breaths. I did a little research online as well and found a few links to sites with people asking the same question...but not really answers.

Like you, the patients are concerned about the breathing, but it appears it’s not a serious medical issue and more of an annoyance. However, looking through them I did notice that the onset of the symptom usually, but not in all cases, began some period after an event, such as surgery, periods of stress, impact to the chest, a cold, influenza, asthma, sleep apnea...the list goes on...
Do you remember anything taking place before your symptoms began?
For your peace of mind, it might be worth a trip to your physician to make sure there’s no discernible cause.

Here’s one of the links I found, though the entries are quite dated. See if these stories sound familiar. Hopefully we’ll get some community members responding who may have had similar experiences as yours.

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Respiratory-Disorders/Strange-Involuntary-Breath/show/14555

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I didn't experience any precipitating events prior to the lung hiccup I get from time to time. No answers from doctors either. Just seems to be one of the things associated with pulmonary fibrosis.

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johannab | @johannab | Jun 22, 2023

I am happily reading all these comments as they are the only validation I have found for the existence of an additional “second” inhalation - of course intermittently. This has been going on for a month. All of my labs are normal. My doctor looked puzzled when I told him about it and I could not make it happen for him to see. My spinal fusion was almost a year ago so there is no surgical preceding event. Age is 80 and I can forcefully blow air to 350 on a peak flow meter. Absolutely no reason for a gasping second inhale every once in a while.

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mimmzy | @mimmzy | Jun 28, 2023

I have had this since a lung biopsy last year. Nice to have some validation.

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karenee | @karenee | Jun 30, 2023

I have had this for years. it's almost like the first half of a single hiccup-just a gasp-sometimes with noise similar to a hicc but without the up! None of my doctors (pulmonologist, cardiologist, or GP) even understand what i am describing much less have an answer for what it is caused by. It seems to be pretty common when i see all the people online discussing.

It seems to have all started for me after I had knee surgery. A lot of people online mention surgeries as well. Perhaps being intubated caused the issue? idk

my heath? I am 55 and have had a complete heart work-up-all good aside from slightly leaky valves. I have asthma. I've had Graves Disease too.

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Just Me | @brighterday | Nov 12, 2023
In reply to @diane50 "Hi everyone, I am in the hospital and can't seem to really get any answers. All..." + (show)
@diane50

Hi everyone,
I am in the hospital and can't seem to really get any answers. All I am getting is according to your test results, you are fine. I to have burst of involuntary exhale, at first it was just embarrassing because I didn't even realize I was doing it until others asked me about it. I have been doing this for about a year now and it's daily, quite often but was only annoying and embarrassing at first. It seems to be getting worse and I can't find any answers. I have Myasthenia Gravis and it is now to the point that it causes diaphragm weakness, which means it's triggering Myasthenia Gravis. I usually can just put ice on my chest and rest to get strength back to my diaphragm. A little nervous but it works so ok. Now I am in the hospital being treated for congestion with severe consistent coughing which I thought was the normal sinus/seasonal allergies draining and turning into bronchitis but they ran test and did X-rays and can't seem to diagnose me with anything. I am still here because of the unknown everything is normal has triggered my MG again causing diaphragm weakness. I was stuffed with steroids and back to back breathing treatments and finally got the coughing under control and the drainage reduced as well as the wheezing reduced. I just had my mestinon and this unexplained outburst of quick, deep, involuntary forced exhale has my upper chest through my back in pain and back to weakness in my diaphragm and I can't seem to make it stop. I don't even know what specialist doctor to ask because no one seems to know. Is there anything you do to help it stop. I actually tried the clinching of my cell phone and it did not seem work for me. I have been able to slow it down some with closing my eyes and going to my happy place and practicing relaxation techniques I learned to help when I go into a MG Crises, but it doesn't last. I need this to stop because with Myasthenia Gravis, it is more then just annoying for me. It can get dangerous. Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks.

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I’m new to this forum and just found your message. I thought I would share that I have been having quick involuntary intakes of breath for years. I only notice it when I’m at rest such as quietly reading or watching television. It feels like what I imagine happens during the night with someone who has sleep apnea. I assume it might be that I’m so relaxed my oxygen saturation level has dropped? But, perhaps there is something else going on. Interestingly, I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis a couple months ago after several years of chasing after various autoimmune diagnoses. I think we finally have it right as my symptoms are spot on with gMG. I hope you are feeling better. Did they ever figure out what was going on with your involuntary exhale?

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srv79184 | @srv79184 | Dec 19, 2023

I am having the same in the last few days; very worries; does it occur only at day time or when sleeping as well? for me , it seems to happen more when I am sleeping and disturbs my sleep

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Dec 19, 2023

I do it too- not often and it doesn’t worry me.

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scs23 | @scs23 | Dec 19, 2023

I've had that weird quick breath thing too. It started during chemo. It would happen several times a day during chemo and for about a week after. Then it would lessen to once in a while. And it happened every time I had chemo. It still happens but not very often.

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