How is central sleep apnea diagnosed

The overall outlook will depend on treating the underlying cause and avoiding these complications. Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing periodically throughout the night. In central sleep apnea, this occurs due to faulty signals in the brain not telling the respiratory muscles to breathe correctly.

There are several potential causes, and properly diagnosing the cause is the key to finding the correct form of treatment. Getting prompt and early treatment for central sleep apnea may help reduce the risk of long-term complications. Properly treating the underlying cause of central sleep apnea can stop or greatly reduce the apnea itself in many cases.

Learn about the different types of CPAP machines available online and how to choose the best one. Researchers from Penn State have found that those experiencing sleep apnea are at a higher risk of sudden death and death from cardiovascular…. According to the results of a recent study, exercising more while cutting back on watching TV can reduce the risk of developing obstructive sleep…. Automatic CPAP cleaners are available that use ozone and ultraviolet.

However, they are not FDA-approved. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning CPAP…. What to know about central sleep apnea. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What is it? What is central sleep apnea? Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. Sleep apnea may almost double the risk of sudden death Researchers from Penn State have found that those experiencing sleep apnea are at a higher risk of sudden death and death from cardiovascular… READ MORE.

Central Sleep Apnea is more often seen in patients with congestive heart failure, stroke, or kidney disease. It can also be caused by high altitude or a medication, usually an opioid such as oxycodone. Other times it is idiopathic — which just means the cause is unknown.

Since it is not associated with snoring or obesity, symptoms of CSA are more difficult to identify. Here are a few symptoms to watch for: shortness of breath or gasping when you awaken, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. Diagnosis is important, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that patient with suspected central sleep apnea be tested in a medical facility, not at home, because of the complexity of disorder and connection to other comorbidities.

Patients are often tested via a home sleep apnea test such as the ones provided by Millennium Sleep Lab. Millennium reviewed data from the last 12, patients tested for sleep apnea, and 5. Sleep Apnea Information Page. Learn more about Sleep Apnea. By Austin Meadows November 11, By Danielle Pacheco October 29, By Austin Meadows October 29, By Eric Suni October 22, By Danielle Pacheco October 15, Hypercapnia By Danielle Pacheco September 30, Orthopnea By Eric Suni April 29, Load More Articles.

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These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information. This is particularly true if they're experiencing CSA symptoms such as: Recurrent pauses in their breathing while they're sleeping Shortness of breath that wakes them up while sleeping Excessive daytime drowsiness that causes them to fall asleep while driving, working, or watching TV Insomnia or trouble staying asleep You should inquire about any sleep issues that leave them chronically sleepy, fatigued, and irritable.

CSA is more common in adults over the age 65, likely because they might have medical conditions that are causing their CSA. CSA is more common in males than females. Brain tumor, stroke, or a structural brainstem lesion. Conditions of the brain like these can impair your patient's brain's ability to regulate their breathing. Heart disorders. Patients with congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation have a higher risk of getting CSA. When your patient sleeps at a higher altitude than they are used to, it could increase their risk of central sleep apnea or periodic breathing pattern.

However, once they return to a lower altitude, this is no longer a problem. This often resolves after a period of time on CPAP.

Opioid use. As mentioned above, patients who are taking opioid medications have a high risk of CSA. How is Central Sleep Apnea Diagnosed? During the polysomnogram, you will monitor body functions, including their: Brain electrical activity Eye movements Heart rate Muscle activity Airflow Breathing effort Blood oxygen levels You may perform a full-night sleep study, or in some cases a split-night sleep study.

Treatment Options for Central Sleep Apnea There are several treatment options for central sleep apnea. CPAP therapy helps your patient tremendously by: Keeping their airway open while they sleep.

Eliminating or at least reducing their snoring. Improving their sleep quality. Eliminating or reducing their daytime sleepiness. Key Takeaways: With CSA, your patient's breathing effort stops, or starts and stops, repeatedly while they sleep.

Stroke and heart failure can trigger CSA.