Breathing anomalies are medical conditions that affect the way a person breathes. Rales, also known as crackles, are abnormal lung sounds that can be heard through a stethoscope. Apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for short periods of time. Lastly, FREAKS is an acronym for Foreign Body, Respiratory Infection, Endocrine Disease, Airway Obstruction, and Kussmaul Breathing, which are all conditions that can cause breathing anomalies.