 [ Symptoms ] when i sleep on my back as i fall asleep i stop breathing is this normal  after i stop breathing i jolt up turn on my side and can then fall asleep it concerns me that my lung muscles are not strong enough to breath while i am laying on my back but perhaps it is normal i am 5 8 190 lbs and exercise daily run lift weights sports and am 47 [ Disease ] you might have what is called sleep apnea also known as snoring but you may have it severe enough that it causes you to stop breathing look for a doctor that specializes in this and have a sleep study performed to determine if the reason you stop breathing and they can also tell how many times you stop breathing while you sleep