What Causes Difficulty In Breathing And Fluttering Sensation In The Chest?

I am a healthy 67 year young female, occasionally my wind pipe closes. When this happens it may take 90 seconds to reopen to where I can breathe again. Usually I am able to get tiny sips of air in and out. By myself I have pounded n my upper rib cage, and when others are around I have someone pound on my back. The return of natural breathing is slow and 3 to 4 minutes before breathing is easy again. At night when I am resting I often feel it begin to restrict and I sit up and take several controlled breaths. The total closing doesn t happen that often, but has been more often this year. Has been an ongoing condition. For over 12 years.Ann