Hi, Thanks for the query. May I know the age & body weight of your husband? Is he obese? whether he has any preexisting respiratory condition like asthma, emphysema or uses inhaler? Based on information provided, your husband seems to be suffering from a condition known as Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is caused by obstruction of the upper airway. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses in breathing, called apneas which can typically last for 20 to 40 seconds. Patient of OSA is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening & it is rather recognized as a problem by others witnessing the individual due to associated snoring. Diagnosis of OSA is based on a combination of patient history and lab based sleep study (polysomnography test) & depending upon severity of OSA various measures like exercise for weight reduction, Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) etc. are used for treatment. Please convince your husband to get himself checked as early as possible Hope this helps; good luck