Sleep apnea causes pauses in breathing while you’re sleeping. This is a serious condition that affects your health and well-being. It can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, depression, obesity, and problems with your memory and concentration. It also raises your risk of accidents at work or in the car because you are so tired during the day.

Central Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

The most common type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. This can be caused by medical conditions such as heart disease, or it can occur because of medications or substance use.

With CSA, a part of your brain called the brain stem doesn’t respond properly to changes in carbon dioxide levels in your body during sleep. When carbon dioxide levels drop, the brain stem should signal your muscles to breathe more often and more deeply. Instead, your muscles relax and lapse into breathing that is slower and shallower than normal. This can happen many times during the night and cause you to wake up.

If you have CSA, your doctor may suggest that you get a split-night sleep study to monitor your breathing and to rule out other types of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea repetitive movements during sleep (REM) disorder, or narcolepsy. The test usually involves monitoring you while you sleep and then awakening you to start treatment, such as positive airway pressure or supplemental oxygen. If effective, this can improve your symptoms and reduce your risk of serious complications.