There are many conditions which can cause central sleep apnea. If you suffer from one of the following, observe any of the central sleep apnea symptoms, make an appointment with a doctor.
The Conditions which Cause Central Sleep Apnea
- Neurological Diseases: Central sleep apnea is a condition which arises due to damage to the region of the brain which controls breathing. Many neurological diseases are present which can damage the brainstem (the part of the brain which controls breathing). So diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Lou Gehrig’s can at times cause central sleep apnea.
- Stoke: Stokes can occur at any moment due to a number of reasons such as obesity and stress. When a stoke occurs, it can cause brain damage which will act as the trigger for central sleep apnea.
- Surgery Complications: The nervous system as a whole is interconnected, hence damage in the nervous system at a different location such as the spine can cause damage in the brain stem and cause sleep apnea. Thus complications arising during cervical spine surgery can cause central sleep apnea.
- Heart Failure: When complete heart failure occurs, the flow of blood (and oxygen) is stopped until the heart is resuscitated. But if the time between failure and resuscitation is long, brain damage will occur due to the lack of oxygen.
- Trauma to the Cervical Spine: Lastly if the cervical spine is exposed to trauma of any sort, it may affect the brain stem and cause central sleep apnea.
Your actions against central sleep apnea if you have the conditions above:
If you suffer from any of the above conditions, make sure to check if you have the symptoms of central sleep apnea. If you think you do, then contact your doctor and get a sleep study done. While central sleep apnea can be life threatening, if diagnosed and treated you will be fine.
