Central sleep apnea is less common type of sleep disorder than obstructive sleep apnea (it accounts for less than 10% of the sleep apneas).
In this the brain fails to pass appropriate signals to the muscles which control breathing. Heart disease is the most common cause for central sleep apnea and you may tend to wake up in the night by severe headache or shortness of breath.
People who have central sleep apnea can clearly remember their awakenings in the night as the breathings tend to stop and start due to lack of respiratory effort while sleeping. The ability of the brain to not function in this direction could be idiopathic (cause not known), cheyne-strokes respiration (associated with stroke or congestive heart failure), some medications or drugs or high altitude periodic breathing.
Signs and symptoms of central sleep apnea
Some common symptoms of central sleep apnea include – Abnormal breathing pattern with evident episodes of stopped breathing Insomnia – difficulty to remain asleep at night Hypersomnia – daytime drowsiness or sleepiness or fatigue Shortness of breath with abrupt awakenings Difficult to concentrate If central sleep apnea is due to neurological condition, then the following symptoms are observed.
When you stand up from a lying or sitting position you feel lightheadedness
Difficulty in swallowing
Numbness or weakness throughout the body
Snoring may also be observed in some cases, however is not as dominant as in obstructive sleep apnea
Risk factors
Sex – Men are at a higher risk then women to get central sleep apnea.
Brain tumor or stroke – causes impaired brain functioning to transmit signals to the muscles that regulate breathing.
Heart disorders – Individuals with congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of getting central sleep apnea.
Neuromuscular disorders – Like Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, Lou Gehrig’s disease can affect the breathing functions.
High altitude – Sleeping on higher altitude may put you at risk for sleep apneas. Altitude more than 15,000 feet can cause symptoms in some while altitude above 25,000 feet can cause symptoms in all.
But this problem fades when the person returns back to the normal altitude.
Opioids – Taking opioids for more than 2 months puts a person at higher risk for central sleep apnea.
It is important to seek the correct medical advice as soon as you experience any symptoms for central sleep apnea to avoid any complications related to it. The specialist will help you diagnose the type of sleep apnea and then treat you accordingly.
