I sometimes repeatedly stop breathing just as i fall asleep. when this occurs i also have increased pain from a hiatal hernia. whats causing this?

?Sleep apnea?: Cessation of breathing while sleeping is most often, but not exclusively, sleep apnea. Since the trachea and esophagus run along with each other and the diaphragm is involved in breathing and is where the hiatal hernia is, one would expect that they are anatomically and functionally related. However, although probable, it is not fact until more significant problems are ruled out.