Central sleep apnea is when you repeatedly stop breathing during sleep because the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing.

See also:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Sleep disorders

Central sleep apnea often occurs in people who are seriously ill. For example, it can develop in persons who have life-threatening problems with the brainstem. The brainstem controls breathing. As a result, any disease or injury affecting this area may result in problems with normal breathing during sleep or when awake.

Conditions that can cause central sleep apnea include:

• Bulbar poliomyelitis
• Complications of cervical spine surgery
• Encephalitis affecting the brainstem
• Neurodegenerative illnesses such as Parkinson's disease
• Radiation of the cervical spine
• Severe arthritis and degenerative changes in the cervical spine or the base of the skull
• Stroke affecting the brainstemPrimary hypoventilation syndrome
• Use of certain medications such as painkillers

One form of central sleep apnea commonly occurs in people with congestive heart failure. Idiopathic central sleep apnea refers to apnea that is not associated with another disease.

Central sleep apnea is not the same as obstructive sleep apnea, which is due to a blockage in the airway.

Persons with central sleep apnea have episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.

Other symptoms may include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Restless sleep

Other symptoms may occur if the apnea is due to a neurological condition. Symptoms depend on the underlying disease and what parts of the nervous system it has affected, but may include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Voice changes
• Weakness or numbness throughout the body

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Tests will be done to diagnose an underlying medical condition. A sleep study (polysomnogram) can confirm sleep apnea.

Other tests that may be done include:

• Lung function studies
• MRI

Oxygen, nasal CPAP, or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) may be used for some types of central sleep apnea.

Some types of central sleep apnea are treated with drugs that stimulate breathing.

Patients should avoid the use of any sedative medications.

If central sleep apnea is due to heart failure, the goal is to treat the heart failure itself. See: Heart failure

For idiopathic apnea, the outlook is usually favorable. In congestive heart failure, an aggressive treatment of the heart may improve the outlook. If the cause is a brainstem injury, the outlook tends to be worse.

Complications may result from the underlying disease causing the central sleep apnea.

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is usually diagnosed in patients who are already severely ill.

Eckert DJ, Jordan AS, Merchia P, Malhotra A. Central sleep apnea: Pathophysiology and treatment. Chest. 2007 Feb;131(2):595-607.