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.
- Stroke: Individuals with history of stroke 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.
- Psychotropic medication use: Individuals with history of chronic psychotropic medication use and/or abuse, as a side-effect of the medication intake, can present with suppression of the higher centers in the brain controlling the respiratory activity. Excessive intake of psychotropic medications, such as, sedative-hypnotics, anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers, 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.
- Poorly managed cardiac conditions: Individuals with history of poorly managed cardiac conditions, such as, heart failure and arrhythmias, can present with compromised pumping activity of the heart. This can result in reduced amount of blood pumped out of the heart and consequently, deficient blood supply to the vital organs, such as, brain. Reduced blood supply to the brain can lead to compromised brain function and poor signal transmission to the muscles controlling the respiratory activity, thus contributing to development of central sleep apnea.
- Also, central sleep apnea can be more common in men than women and in senior citizens with slowing of brain function.
