For certain biological activity to take place in the body, the brain must relay a message to that body part, or organ for that activity to be performed. In the case of central sleep apnea, the brain sends inappropriate signals to the muscles responsible for breathing, resulting in the repeated stopping and starting of breathing while the person is asleep.
Central sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by episodes of cessation of respiration while sleeping. The brain does not send the proper messages to the muscles of breathing. Central sleep apnea is not as common as other sleep apneas as is counted as less than five percent of all the sleep apneas combined.
Symptoms:
Observed episodes of stopped breathing or abnormal breathing patterns during sleep
Suddenly awake with shortness of breath, relief brought on by sitting upright
Insomnia- inability to go to sleep and staying asleep
Hypersomnia - sleepy during the day
Reduced concentration
Snoring
Snoring can be attributed to:
Enlarged tonsils - primarily in children
Excessive throat tissue
Loss of tone in the throat muscles
Increased weight
Use of alcohol
Certain medications
Use of alcohol and some medications cause relaxation of the muscles surrounding the throat, which can obstruction of the airway. Maintaining airway is of major importance and is always the first focus in any event. Without proper airway patency, life hangs in the balance and death could be the result if not attended to immediately.
Causes of central sleep apnea:
Periodic cessation of breathing during sleep
Cheyne-Stokes respiration
Brain stem damage
High altitudes of 15,000 feet or more
Medications: Opiates such as morphine, oxycodone, or codeine
Risks:
Gender - Males more likely to develop this disorder than females.
Heart disorders - Such as atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure
Stroke or brain tumor - Reduces the brain's ability to control breathing
Sleeping at high altitudes
Taking opioid medications
Complications:
Cardiovascular (heart) problems
Cerebrovascular(brain) problems
Daytime fatigue
Testing for this sleep disorder includes:
Nocturnal polysomnography - Monitors heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels.
oximetry - monitors and records your blood oxygen level
cardiorespiratory testing - Measures airflow and breathing patterns.
Arterial blood gas testing (ABG) - Measures blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
Treatment:
Treat other underlying medical problems
Reduction of opioid medications
Supplemental oxygen
Medications to stimulate respiration, such as acetazolamide
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP)
Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)
Snoring may or may not be present with central sleep apnea as it is with obstructive sleep apnea. If you are always feeling overly tired during the day and irritable for no apparent reason,you should consult your physician as soon as possible. Any type of sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that requires medical intervention.
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