Central sleep apnea is a rare disorder affecting sleep that is not commonly reported or identified by those that have it. The common type of the disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, which is developed through a blockage along a person’s airway. Obstructive apnea disables the affected person from getting enough air, which leads to uneven breathing and poor sleep.
The rarer form of this disorder is central sleep apnea. Where obstructive deals largely with the physical construction or condition of a person’s airway, central sleep apnea is caused by nervous or respiratory system problems.
Central sleep apnea is only common in patients that have suffered from nerve damage. Injuries to areas such as the brain stem or spinal cord are particularly likely candidates for causing central sleep apnea. The process that this sleeping disorder disrupts is the transmission of information from the brain to the body. When we need to breathe, signals will be sent that regulate breathing. In cases of this disorder however, there is no information passed and entire periods of breathing are missed.
In a case of central sleep apnea there is no attempt at all from the body to try and take a breath. Because of this, there is no labored breathing causing or disrupting sleep. The body however is able to notice when the blood oxygen levels drop below a normal point. This happens whenever there is a significant period of missed breathing. To make up for it, there is a considerable amount of time where the affected person will begin breathing more rapidly.
Physical reactions of the body that result from central sleep apnea can cause breathing disruptions that are equally damaging as those from obstructive apnea. Such a disturbance to breathing can lead to awakenings, which are short periods of wakefulness at night that disturb normal sleep.
While central sleep apnea may be a rare disorder, it is still very important to remember that the quality of sleep is affected by any amount of change. To maintain a healthy amount of sleep it requires a consistent commitment to a strict schedule. It is very important to be aware of the effect that any possible sleeping disorders could have on your rest.
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