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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffCommon signs and symptoms of central sleep apnea include:
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing or abnormal breathing patterns during sleep
- Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath
- Shortness of breath that's relieved by sitting up
- Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Snoring
Although snoring indicates some degree of increased obstruction to airflow, snoring may also be heard in the presence of central sleep apnea. However, snoring may not be as prominent with central sleep apnea as it is with obstructive sleep apnea.
When to see a doctor
Consult a medical professional if you experience, or if your partner observes, any signs or symptoms of central sleep apnea, particularly the following:
- Shortness of breath that awakens you from sleep
- Intermittent pauses in your breathing during sleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while you're working, watching television or even driving
Ask your doctor about any sleep problem that leaves you chronically fatigued, sleepy and irritable. Excessive daytime drowsiness (hypersomnia) may be due to other disorders, such as narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea.
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- Central sleep apnea. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec05/ch061/ch061d.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
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- Ropper AH, et al. Sleep and its abnormalities. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3633173. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Weil JV. Sleep at high altitude. High Altitude Medicine and Biology. 2004;5:180.
- Eckert DJ, et al. Mechanisms of apnea. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2009;51:313.
- Leung RST. Sleep-disordered breathing: Autonomic mechanisms and arrhythmias. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2009;51:324.
- Badr MS. Central sleep apnea syndrome: Treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Randerrath WJ. Combined adaptive servo-ventilation and automatic positive airway pressure (anticyclic modulated ventilation) in co-existing obstructive and central sleep apnea syndrome and periodic breathing. Sleep Medicine. 2009. In press. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Hastings PC. Adaptive servo-ventilation in heart failure patients with sleep apnea: A real world study. International Journal of Cardiology. 2008. In press. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Morgenthaler TI (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 22, 2009.
