Central Sleep Apnea
Alternate Names : Sleep Apnea - Central
DefinitionCentral sleep apnea involves cessation of breathing during sleep, caused by problems with brain mechanisms that control breathing. (Note: This is not the more common obstructive sleep apnea caused by obesity or other problems, which results in loud snoring.)
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Central sleep apnea is rare in people who are not seriously ill. It occurs in patients with a variety of severe and life-threatening lower brain stem lesions. The brainstem controls breathing. As a result, any disease or injury affecting this area may result in problems with normal breathing during sleep or when awake.
Conditions that can cause sentral sleep apnea include bulbar poliomyelitis, encephalitis affecting the brainstem, neurodegenerative illnesses, and stroke affecting the brainstem. Other causes include complications of surgery of the cervical spine, secondary radiation in the region of the cervical spine, severe arthritic and degenerative changes in the cervical spine and/or base of skull, or primary hypoventilation syndrome.
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