IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY is a phrase that can refer to a variety of medical conditions. The two crossword solutions for this phrase are APNEA (5 letters) and ASTHMA (6 letters). Apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for short periods of time while asleep. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes difficulty breathing due to inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Both of these conditions can cause difficulty breathing and can be life-threatening if not treated properly.