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Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea does not occur as often as obstructive sleep apnea, but it is equally as dangerous. With obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles surrounding the airway, from the soft palate to the tongue, relax as the sufferer sleeps, obstructing the airway.
Central sleep apnea is a neurological disease, not a simple blockage of the airway as in obstructive sleep apnea. A dysfunction in the thalamus area of the brain and the brain stem, which controls breathing, causes central sleep apnea. In central sleep apnea, breathing stops numerous times during sleep because the brain does not send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing. Injury or disease can affect these regions of the brain, causing difficulty breathing while sleeping.
Medical conditions that frequently lead to central sleep apnea include:
==> Being male
==> Brain tumor
==> Bulbar Poliomyelitis
==> Cervical spine surgery complications
==> Congestive heart failure
==> Degeneration and arthritis in the cervical spine
==> Encephalitis
==> Hypoventilation Syndrome
==> Neurological conditions / neuromuscular disorders
==> Radiation in the cervical spine
==> Shy-Drager Syndrome
==> Sleeping at a high altitude
==> Stroke
The symptoms of central sleep apnea include:
==> Frequently waking during sleep
==> Daytime sleepiness
==> Difficulty focusing on tasks
==> Difficulty swallowing
==> Insomnia and difficulty remaining asleep
==> Lightheadedness
==> Numbness in the body
==> Shortness of breath
==> Temporarily ceasing to breath during sleep
==> Tiredness
==> Voice changes
==> Waking up suddenly during sleep
==> Weakness
The complications a person with central sleep apnea may experience include:
==> Daytime sleepiness
==> Depression
==> Inability to concentrate
==> Irritability
==> Heart disease
==> High blood pressure
==> Sleep deprivation complications
Tests used to diagnose central sleep apnea include:
==> Breathing tests
==> Lung testing
==> MRI
==> Polygraphic sleep study testing
==> Tests for associated medical illnesses and causes
Treatment possibilities for central sleep apnea include:
==> Continuous Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines worn during sleep
==> Drug treatments
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