Central sleep apnea (patient information)

Central sleep apnea is when you repeatedly stop breathing during sleep because the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing.^[1]

Persons with central sleep apnea have episodes of disrupted breathing during sleep.

Other symptoms may include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Restless sleep

Other symptoms may occur if the apnea is due to a neurological condition. Symptoms depend on the underlying disease and what parts of the nervous system it has affected, but may include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Voice changes
• Weakness or numbness throughout the body

Central sleep apnea often occurs in people who have certain medical conditions. For example, it can develop in persons who have life-threatening problems with the brainstem, which controls breathing.

Conditions that can cause or lead to central sleep apnea include:

• Arthritis and degenerative changes in the cervical spine or the base of the skull
• Bulbar poliomyelitis
• Complications of cervical spine surgery
• Encephalitis affecting the brainstem
• Neurodegenerative illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease
• Obesity
• Radiation of the cervical spine
• Stroke affecting the brainstem
• Primary hypoventilation syndrome
• Use of certain medications such as narcotic painkillers

A form of central sleep apnea commonly occurs in people with congestive heart failure.

If the apnea is not associated with another disease, it is called idiopathic central sleep apnea.

A condition called Cheyne-Stokes respiration can mimic central sleep apnea. This involves breathing to a variable depth, usually while sleeping.

• Males are at higher risk than females.
• Elderly individuals are at higher risk compared to younger ones.
• Congestive heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Brain tumor
• Stroke
• Drug abuse

• History of any heart failure
• History of atrial fibrillation
• History of any drug abuse

There are no physical findings specific to central sleep apnea.

Tests will be done to diagnose an underlying medical condition. A sleep study (polysomnogram) can confirm sleep apnea.

Other tests that may be done include:

• Echocardiogram
• Lung function studies
• MRI of the spine or neck

Central sleep apnea is usually diagnosed in patients who are already severely ill. Physician should be contacted if any of the symptoms of central sleep apnea are noticed.

Oxygen, nasal CPAP, or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) may be used for some types of central sleep apnea.

Some types of central sleep apnea are treated with drugs that stimulate breathing.

Patients should avoid the use of any sedative medications.

If central sleep apnea is due to heart failure, the goal is to treat the heart failure itself

Directions to Hospitals Treating Central sleep apnea

• In patients of heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy may reduce the risk of central sleep apnea. ^[2]

The outlook is usually favorable in those with idiopathic central sleep apnea.

Complications may result from the underlying disease causing the central sleep apnea