What Is Apnea?
8. Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a disorder where there is reduced or absent effort to breathe for about 10 to 30 seconds. This can occur in cycles or intermittently and generally causes a decreased oxygen saturation in the blood. It is believed to be due to an instability in the feedback mechanisms in the body.
It can be caused by an underlying medical condition, use of narcotics, ascent to high altitude, and more. Primary central sleep apnea is rare and not entirely understood. Like OSA, patients with CSA present with excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, nonrestorative sleep, nighttime awakenings, and more. Insomnia is also more prevalent among CSA patients compared to OSA. Depending on the underlying cause of CSA, the patients may experience symptoms from that condition as well.
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