Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea is also known as the Cheyne-Stokes respiration in which a person's respiratory control is imbalanced. The brain fails to send the signals to the muscles for breathing. Infants and adults are more likely to have central sleep apnea. Especially persons who are suffering from heart disease and congenital diseases are at high risk of getting Central sleep apnea. Sometimes medications also are responsible for central sleep apnea.
In this type of apnea, the sleeper suddenly feels breathless, falls short of breath and starts breathing again in a while. During this pause in breathing, the body shows no attempt to breathe. After this type of pause, the person’s speed of breathing may increase to maintain the level of oxygen and waste gases in the body.
Side-Effects of Central Sleep Apnea
For a healthy person, breathing during sleep is a regular activity and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide remain constant in the bloodstream. Central sleep apnea affects the neurological controls and breathing that causes its failure in signaling the inhale activity. It is, therefore, possible for an individual to miss some of the breathing cycles. If the apneic period is constant, then the oxygen level in blood circulation will come down and the carbon dioxide will increase to a level higher than the normal. These conditions are called hypoxia and hypercapnia respectively.
Constant flow of oxygen is necessary for the blood cells to live. Decrease in the level of oxygen may cause severe damages to the brain, including death casualty sometimes. However, central sleep apnea does not have effects of sudden death often, as it has milder effects. The effects depend upon the severity of apnea and that person's immune system against it.
Central sleep apnea will cause some common side-effects. These side effects are related to the heart muscle and nervous system diseases and other co-existing problems. The transparent parts of the human body will have a dusky or bluish shed from cyanosis that is the direct result of lack of oxygen flow in blood circulation. Central sleep apnea can also affect the brain's command over the breathing process. However, in some severe cases, the pauses in breathing may result in total termination of breathing.
Precautions for Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea can be diagnosed by observing a patient for the whole night. Infants who are suffering from change in the heart rate and decreased blood oxygen need to be taken care of. These children can easily get affected by central sleep apnea. Hence, the device for an alarm must be arranged when apnea occurs to the infant. The device will work as an alarm which will monitor the breathing of the infant and alert when the infant experiences apnea.
