In the mean time I looked it up. it said with Sleep apnea it cold cause a person to be awake but unresponsive to what was going on around them for time length you mentioned, because elf the poor quality of sleep at night.
Earlier this year I was under much stress not sleeping well and would jolt awake at night literally sit right up some times, sometimes it wasn’t so severe but when i woke suddenly I’d wonder if I had not been breathing and “my internal back up generator” kicked in and startled me awake. (thank God!) It really messed me up for daytime and being alert. Dr even did cardiac exam to be sure it wasn’t heart.
Glad your husband got checked out and taking care of himself :)
I was able to resolve some of the stress, eat better and restructure my hours before sleep to help me get better sleep.
I am having trouble myself because of a cough that does not seem to want to go away.
I get up, have a cup of hot tea with honey and can go back to sleep for a couple of hours.
It is really messing me up.
Sleep, until you chronically are missing it you have no idea how precious it is.