The kind of sleep apnea we talk about here is obstructive sleep apnea. It happens when the muscles in your throat relax while you're sleeping, blocking the flow of air to your lungs. But there are also two other types.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Sleep apnea.
May 2009. Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov (accessed on 22 June 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

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In this type, your brain doesn't send the right signals to the muscles that make you breath, so your breathing stops for a short time. This is different from obstructive sleep apnea, where your body is trying to get air into your lungs but your airway is blocked. In both types, your brain recognizes that there isn't enough oxygen in your blood and wakes you briefly to restart your breathing. With central sleep apnea, you may be more likely to remember waking up than with obstructive sleep apnea.

Common symptoms of central sleep apnea include extreme tiredness during the day and trouble sleeping (insomnia). You may also wake up with shortness of breath or a headache. Snoring is less common with central sleep apnea than with obstructive sleep apnea.

For some people, central sleep apnea is related to

 

 

 

 

 

heart disease
You get heart disease when your heart isn't able to pump blood as well as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons.

 

 

 

 

 

heart disease. It can also be linked to other problems, such as

 

 

 

 

 

stroke
You have a stroke when the blood supply to a part of your brain is cut off. This damages your brain and can cause symptoms like weakness or numbness on one side of your body. You may also find it hard to speak if you've had a stroke.

 

 

 

 

 

strokes and Parkinson's disease. But sometimes doctors don't know why people get it.

Treatments include wearing a special mask connected to air pump at night. If your sleep apnea is related to heart disease or another condition, treating that condition may help.

Many people with central sleep apnea also have obstructive apnea. Having both types is called complex sleep apnea.

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