What is Central Sleep Apnea?

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What is Central Sleep Apnea?

Central Sleep Apnea is a medical condition in which breathing ceases for a few seconds (sometimes as much as two minutes, or more) during sleep. The body simply "forgets" to breath. It is a neurological function; no "mechanical" obstruction is involved, as is the case with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. These episodes are believed to occur in the Thalmus area of the brain. Also, Central Sleep Apnea may involve primary brainstem medullary depression resulting from a tumor of the posterior fossa, poliomyletis, or idiopathic central hypoventilation.

What are the symptoms of Central Sleep Apnea?

During an episode, a person may just not take a breath for an unusually long time, then suddenly inhale rapidly; also, the person may inhale at regular intervals, but exhaling becomes troublesome, again, due to some neurological failure, such as muscles relaxing at that moment, when they should be open (not to be confused with an OSA episode, where muscles relax before inhalation).

How is Central Sleep Apnea treated?

Medications:

Protriptyline; also known as Triptil, Vivactil. An anti-depressant. Also .5mg - 1mg of Klonopin, a depressant. There are likely more pharmacalogical treatments. Please e-mail me if you are aware of them, and I will add them here, if appropriate.

Devices:

CPAP usually doesn't help too much, (some say CPAP causes more events!) though low doses of oxygen can help alleviate the occurences of events.

What is Mixed Apnea?

Mixed Apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep apnea combined. Not only does the sufferer have an obstruction in the airway, but also a neurological dysfunction as well.