Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea
Though the obstructive form is more common than central sleep apnea, the latter is definitely a lot more dangerous. It has a lower incidence rate as only very disparate cases of central sleep apnea are usually signaled, but it is nevertheless a condition that can bring a lot of discomfort and trouble to people who suffer from it. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea that is usually caused by some throat problems such as tonsillitis, deformed bones or fatty tissues in the area, central sleep apnea is generated by a dysfunction of the thalamus area in the brain. This part of the central nervous system is the one responsible for the breathing function.
Among the potential causes of sleep apnea, we could mention health problems like poliomyelitis, encephalitis and stroke. Sometimes, this sleep disorder could also appear as a consequence of some neuro-vegetative affection, radiation treatments and surgical interventions at the level of the cervical spine. During central apnea episodes, breathing may cease for short periods of time on a repetitive basis. Thus, the number of breathing insufficiency moments can vary between a few times to hundreds of times per night; the person who suffers from the disease will most likely experience frequent awakenings and extended tiredness during the day.
Snoring is seldom an issue for people who suffer from central sleep apnea, but there may appear voice changes and swallowing difficulties that sometimes indicate a underlying affection of the central nervous system. Though usually signaled by bed mates, central sleep apnea can be further diagnosed by means of complex medical tests that include polygraphic studies and other advanced procedures that also cover the determination of the underlying causes of the problem. Patients who suffer from the affection require close monitoring from a health care provider since complications and risks are likely to appear.
Heart disease, hypertension, poor concentration ability, irritability and drowsiness are among the most frequent consequences of central sleep apnea. The treatment of the affection consists in the administration of specific drugs that increase the need to breathe and in certain special cases medication can be completed by the use of low doses of oxygen. Sometimes central sleep apnea can carry a combined form with obstructive sleep apnea which is all the more risky for the person who suffers from it; the same thing stays valid for the type of central sleep apnea known as ondine's curse, characterized by inadequate breathing throughout the sleep period.