Constant fatigue and drowsiness during the day can be attributed to a sleep disorder that often flies under the radar, Central Sleep Apnea. Central Sleep Apnea actually makes people stop breathing repeatedly during the night. At periodic points during the night the brain stops sending signals to the muscles in your body responsible for controlling breathing, causing people to stop breathing.
There is no specific cause for Central Sleep Apnea. There are a number of reasons people may suffer from this disorder. Obesity is a contributing factor to CSA, as well as certain painkiller medications. Because the brainstem controls breathing, any injuries connected to the brainstem may result in Central Sleep Apnea.
Disrupted breathing during sleep creates a number of undesirable symptoms. Those who suffer from CSA are chronically fatigued, have headaches, and have restless sleep. Other symptoms may include weakness or numbness and difficulty swallowing.
There are a number of ways to diagnose this sleep disorder. Sleep studies confirm CSA, as well as physical exams. For more serious cases of Central Sleep Apnea, an MRI to check the brainstem may be necessary.
A common misconception for treating this sleep disorder is to take a sleep supplement or sleep aid. Unfortunately, any use of sedatives leads to a risk of collapsing the airway during the night.
Those who have moderate cases of Central Sleep Apnea will need a different mechanism to get Oxygen to the brain. A nasal CPAP is a plastic facial mask that opens the airway helping facilitate breathing. A nasal CPAP is a mechanism to help individuals breath and is not a cure for CSA.
Severe cases of Central Sleep Apnea may require surgery. Surgery is an actual cure for sleep apnea, and will open the airway space permanently. After getting surgery, people should have improved sleep quality and duration.
There are several different categories of sleep apnea. Unfortunately this sleep disorder can go unnoticed for a while because people do not recognize the problem on their own.