What Are The Causes Of Central Sleep Apnea, and How to Address It?

 Having adequate sleep is very important for everyone’s well-being and health, but for some individuals, a situation called central sleep apnea can specifically prevent them from having a good night's rest. Central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are different from each other, which is more normal. It happens when the muscles that control breathing while having sleep are not correctly interacted with by the brain. This article will navigate you through the causes and potential central sleep apnea treatment.

 

What Is Central Sleep Apnea?

Breathing repeatedly stops and begins while you sleep if you have central sleep apnea (CSA). This occurs as a result of incorrect signals being sent by the brain to the respiratory muscles.

 

Causes of CSA

There are several central sleep apnea causes that can occur:

 

Heart Failure: A weakened heart can't pump blood efficiently, which can affect the brain's ability to control breathing.

 

Stroke: Damage to the brain due to a stroke can disrupt the respiratory control centers.

 

Certain Drugs: Some drugs, especially opioids and some sedatives, can obstruct the brain's breathing signals.

 

High Altitudes: Because there is less oxygen in the air at high elevations, certain people may get CSA.

 

Cheyne-Stokes Respiration: This is a specific pattern of breathing that alternates between deep and shallow breaths and is often seen in CSA.

 

Symptoms of CSA

CSA can have various symptoms, including:

 

• Many nighttime awakenings.
• Breathing difficulties or gasping for air when you're sleeping.
• Loud snoring, yet this condition can potentially manifest itself as this symptom.
• Excessive drowsiness during the day.
• Difficulties focusing.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

It is important to speak with a dentist who treat sleep apnea near me in Houston if you think you may have CSA. They could carry out a polysomnography sleep study to track your sleeping habits and find any breathing pauses.

 

Treatment

Treating CSA typically involves addressing the underlying cause. Here are some common treatment for central sleep apnea:

 

Treating Heart Conditions: If heart failure is the root cause, managing heart issues through medication or surgery can help alleviate CSA.

 

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy: Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) devices can assist CSA patients in controlling their breathing, similar to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

 

Supplemental Oxygen: For individuals with CSA triggered by low oxygen levels, supplemental oxygen therapy can be beneficial.

 

Changing Prescriptions: If CSA is a side effect of a certain prescription drug, your doctor may change the dosage or recommend an alternative.

 

Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes like avoiding alcohol and sedatives, losing weight, and managing high altitudes can also help manage CSA.

 

Conclusion

With the proper diagnosis and care, central sleep apnea can be a disturbing and worrying illness, but it is treatable. It's crucial to get advice from a healthcare provider if you think you may have CSA or are exhibiting symptoms like disturbed sleep, daytime weariness, or problems concentrating. They can carry out the required examinations and suggest a course of action that is suitable for your individual requirements. You can anticipate better, more restful nights of sleep as well as enhanced general health and well-being by treating the root causes and managing your treatment for sleep apnea.