Patient/caregiver were instructed regarding causes and risk factors for central sleep apnea as follows:
Central sleep apnea is a type of sleep apnea with dysfunction at the level of brain being the major contributory factor. Brain controls and regulates the activity of major respiratory muscles by sending appropriate signals to these muscles and thus helps for a healthy breathing pattern. Any abnormal or deficient brain function can lead to deficient receiving of signals from the brain and poor control & regulation of activity of the respiratory muscles.
Involvement of the following factors can enhance the risk for an individual to present with central sleep apnea. Coexistence of more than one factor can increase the risk for presentation with central sleep apnea accordingly.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Individuals with history of chronic alcoholism and/or alcohol abuse can present with suppression of the higher centers in the brain controlling the respiratory activity. This can result in poor signal transmission to the muscles controlling the respiratory activity, thus contributing to development of central sleep apnea.
- Head injury: Individuals with history of head injury, secondary to falls/accidents/and other causes, can present with abnormal or deficient brain function, poor signal transmission to the muscles controlling the breathing, thus contributing to development of central sleep apnea.
- Excessive opioid use: Individuals with history of chronic opioid use and/or opioid abuse can present with suppression of the higher centers in the brain controlling the respiratory activity. Intake of opioid medications, such as, hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, and methadone, with alcohol can significantly increase the risk of suppression of the higher centers in the brain controlling the respiratory activity. This can result in poor signal transmission to the muscles controlling the respiratory activity, thus contributing to development of central sleep apnea.
- Brain surgery: Individuals who underwent brain surgery for any reason, such as, bleeding into the brain tissue/removal of blood clot/removal of a tumor, can present with abnormal or deficient brain function, poor signal transmission to the muscles controlling the breathing, thus contributing to development of central sleep apnea.
