post-arousal apneas

[Leemax]

I've read and heard that the apneas recorded after big messy spikes in the flow rate aren't really apneas. I take that to mean that the cessation of breathing really happens but that it is the normal breath holding one would do after moving around. My question is: Why does the cessation of breathing last so long? On my Sleepyhead it shows episodes just like that, with an apnea of up to 25 seconds or so, the minimum being, of course, 10 seconds. When I'm awake and hold my breath for a few moments after turning over, arranging pillows, whatever, I never hold my breath for even 10 seconds, much less 20 or more. Do we really stop breathing for that long after an arousal episode, or does the machine not record it accurately?

[Gideon]

They ARE Apneas, what they are NOT are Sleep Apneas.
For OSA treatment they are ignored.

[Leemax]

They ARE Apneas, what they are NOT are Sleep Apneas.
For OSA treatment they are ignored.

So is that something everyone does? Stop breathing for 15 or 20 seconds or whatever amount several times a night? In any case, that still seems like a long time to go without breathing, especially on a partial lungful of air.

[quiescence at last]

I have noticed that, generally, the involuntary cessation occurs after you have expelled a breath fully. When I choose to move (turn over, adjust blankets) I nearly always inhale, then hold my breath until I have moved and then exhale. If you look carefully at the flow rate waveform, you should be able to tell between them.

QAL