Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea, also known as Cheyne-Stokes respiration, is not caused by the same criteria as sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea. Whereas the more common sleep apneas are caused by a physical obstruction in the breathing passages, central sleep apnea is caused by imbalances in the neurological feedback and carbon dioxide blood levels. Blood level carbon dioxide is monitored by a neural feedback system that is supposed to monitor them and send signals telling the body to react accordingly, basically telling the body to breathe at a prescribed rate. However, central sleep apnea sufferers are subject to these imbalances and are thus subject to irregular breathing patterns not only while asleep, but even during normal waking hours.

While asleep, the central sleep apnea sufferer will periodically start and stop breathing with no discernable effort made by the body to try to breathe. No struggling is noticed and no effort to inhale is made by the body. When the body does finally attempt to breathe again, the initial breaths made will be quicker for a short period of time in order to attempt to dissipate the built up waste gases such as carbon dioxide and pull in the needed amount of oxygen.

Central sleep apnea is a relatively uncommon sleeping disorder, however for the few people who do suffer from it, can be extremely disabling to their waking hours. Most side effects from sleep apnea closely mimic those of standard sleep apnea and include, but are not limited to daytime sleepiness, lethargy, lack of focus, change in mood, withdrawal, and depression, among others.

Since central sleep apnea is caused not by a mechanical obstruction in the airways, more focused treatments are often recommended than those prescribed for sleep apnea. Many times, takers of opioid medications suffer from sleep apnea so the prescribing physician will weigh the pros and cons of limiting the sufferer’s exposure to the medication or prescribing a different dosing schedule. Since central sleep apnea may be caused by neuromuscular or heart disorders therapy for those more acute afflictions may cure the central sleep apnea as well. Some cases of central sleep apnea can be resolved simply by the sufferer wearing an oxygen mask while sleeping, which helps regulate carbon dioxide and oxygen levels throughout the night. Finally, while not typically the first line of defense, some physicians may prescribe a physical air flow enabling device such as an adaptive servo-ventilator, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP) device to help control symptoms.