Because the times were so short he was not aware it was happening.
That and his stopping breathing at night was what made me drag him to the doctor kicking and screaming.
Sleep test confirmed he was stopping breathing 38 times an hour.
Every time that happens you come "awake" to start breathing again so you never go fully asleep. You live in a fog of constant sleep deprivation and your body tries to adjust by sending you into a micro nap when ever the demand becomes to great.
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 also had sleep apnea for several years. I remember my sleep
test-the person in charge of the sleep room diagnosed it shortly after I fell asleep. She put me on a CPAP and I had
the best six hours of sleep in many years. I have been on a CPAP for about ten years-it saved my life.
The only regret I have: I can no longer blame apnea for falling asleep during boring committee meetings.
They said I was stopping breathing almost 100 times an hour!