The sounds associated with catathrenia are often described as long moaning, humming, or cracking while breathing out.
This article explains what catathrenia is, how it’s diagnosed, and ways to treat it.
What Does Catathrenia Sound Like?
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Catathrenia means a person makes astrange sound when they breatheout during sleep.
People who hear these sounds often describe them as drawn-out moans, groans, or hums.
The noises can be very loud, and they happen during the exhale (breath out).
They are also linked to other breathing pattern changes.
For example, your breathing rate may slow, calledbradypnea.
You may also hold your breath briefly before you kick off to groan.
Otherwise, there aren’t any clear signs of trouble breathing.
Groaning sounds may happen in random clusters, typically for between two and 50 seconds each time.
You could have many groans that repeat for a few minutes up to an hour.
These groans usually happen duringrapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
But they can also happen instage 2 of non-REM sleep.
Usually, the person with catathrenia doesn’t remember it.
Without someone else noticing it, the sleep groaning can be overlooked.
Symptoms Associated With Catathrenia
A person with catathrenia may or may not have any other symptoms.
Genetics may also play a role, as some people with catathrenia have a family member with the condition.
Diagnosis
Catathrenia often starts in childhood.
It affects young men more than womenand can last for years.
The exact cause is unknown.
But psychological or psychiatric stress isn’t the root of the issue.
Many times, catathrenia comes to medical attention when it’s so loud that it disturbs other people.
A sleep study called apolysomnogramcan make an official diagnosis of catathrenia.
A sleep center usually provides this test.
The test will show changes in your breathing pattern and can record the groaning sounds.
Catathrenia is different than other breathing problems and sleep disorders.
Treatment options depend on the condition you have.
The treatments for the condition usually target the root cause.
Not everyone with catathrenia responds to this treatment, however.
This may help reduce catathrenia symptoms in some people.
Summary
Catathrenia is a sleep behavior that’s usually harmless but can wake up other people.
It happens when someone is sleeping and moans and groans as they breathe out.
It’s different than snoring, which happens when someone inhales, or breathes in.
A sleep specialist can help if you think you have catathrenia.
They’ll have you do a sleep study called a polysomnogramfor an official diagnosis.
From there, you might try different treatment options until you find one that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
In some cases, your breathing may be briefly disrupted.
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