Reply #17: You were at your computer. [View All]

Were you slouching in your chair?

Because if you crouch, and have your shoulders bent forward, you're compressing your upper chest, and you're forcing your diaphragm up against your lungs, and that will sometimes cut off just enough blood flow to the lungs for you to get light-headed and start to gasp for breathe.

When you do that - gasp for breathe - you sit up straight, normal blood flow resumes, and the attack passes.

My recommendation: yoga. I've done it for 37 years, and it's just marvelous for physical and mental well-being. Plus, all the stretching involved in the asanas is wonderful - I mean, WONDERFUL - for people who are at computers for long stretches of time.

Good luck, and keep that upper chest cavity wide open. I bet it helps.