As we know, there are three major types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed (a combination of obstructive and central). We all know what obstructive sleep apnea is, but what is central sleep apnea?
Central sleep apnea is called as such because of a problem with the central nervous system. Your breathing is disrupted because of a disruption in the brain. Central sleep apnea is unlike obstructive sleep apnea in that you are not unable to breathe – you simply do not try to breathe. Your brain does not tell your muscles how to behave and that they have to help you breathe, resulting in apnea episodes.
Who Is Affected By Central Sleep Apnea?
Because this type of sleep apnea is caused by a dysfunction in the brain, it is especially common in those with serious illnesses that affect the lower brainstem – the part of your brain that controls breathing. Sleep apnea is common in men above the age of 40 – but anyone of any age can have central sleep apnea.
It can often occur in conjunction with neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. It can also be caused when there is damage to the brainstem, caused by an accident, stroke or encephalitis and when the individual has undergone brain or spine surgery. Central sleep apnea is also associated with primary hyperventilation syndrome and congestive heart failure.
When central sleep apnea is found in children, it is usually the result of a congenital disorder or from being born prematurely. It is quite common in premature children although most of these children will outgrow it.
Central Sleep Apnea Symptoms
The symptoms of central sleep apnea are very similar to the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Read below for some of the main symptoms of central sleep apnea.
- The main symptom is pauses in breath whilst sleeping
- Feeling tired throughout the day
- Waking up often during the night and needing to go to the bathroom frequently throughout the night
- Waking up with headaches
- Feeling irritable and cranky
- Having problems with your mood or feeling ‘different’
- Poor memory and inability to concentrate on even simple tasks
Although one of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring, this doesn’t tend to be found in those suffering with central sleep apnea.
In babies and infants, central sleep apnea is defined by the following symptoms:
- Apnea episodes lasting more than 20 seconds
- Change in heart rate
- Reduction in blood oxygen
- Relaxation of the muscles
Babies and infants are usually treated with an apnea alarm that alerts the nurses or parents to an apnoeic episode. Children usually outgrow central apnea episodes, but if they don’t, apnea monitoring is often continued into childhood.
Treatment of Central Sleep Apnea
If the cause of the apnea is found to be a disease, such as congestive heart failure, that medical condition will be treated first. Reduction of sleep apnea symptoms should follow.
Some of the treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are also useful in treating central and mixed apnea – for example, losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding sleep deprivation and maintaining healthy sleep patterns, using body pillows and other devices to keep the body in a position that reduces apnoeic episodes, using nasal sprays and avoiding the use of alcohol and sleeping pills as they increase the risk of your airways collapsing whilst asleep.
Sufferers are also often treated with CPAP or BiPAP, although treatment with a BiPAP machine is more common with central sleep apnea sufferers. Medication can also be used to widen your airways, but you may also be swapped to different medications if it’s found that one of your current medicines is causing the problem.
For more information on central sleep apnea, speak to your doctor or go to http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/central-sleep-apnea.