Breathing-related Sleep Disorder (Sleep Apnea)  

Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder is a type of primary dyssomnia. There are two breathing-related mechanisms that can disrupt sleep. After other alternatives have been eliminated, Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder is diagnosed if the individual manifests symptoms of 1) central or obstructive sleep apnea, or 2) central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome. 

Sleep apnea is identified as the cause either if the airway is obstructed or if breathing ceases periodically, without airway obstruction. The obstructive type occurs most frequently in overweight people, and is signaled by snoring as air passes the obstruction. The "central" variety of apnea occurs in the absence of significant obstruction; the problem in this case is with the neural mechanisms that control the breathing process. Central apnea is seen more often in older people. 

Central alveolar hypoventilation is identified as the cause when blood oxygen levels are abnormally low, but apnea is not observed. The lungs of people with this type of sleep disorder are mechanically sound, but most of them are very overweight. People with all three forms of breathing-related sleep disorder are likely to complain of daytime sleepiness, and some have insomnia related to worry about being awakened by the disorder. 

People with obstructive type apnea or hypoventilation are especially vulnerable to problems associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, low oxygen concentration during sleep, edema, and liver congestion. The most hopeful of the breathing-related sleep disorders is obstructive apnea, which can often be relieved through weight loss. The other forms are most often chronic or progressive. 

Visit an interesting site on sleep apneas.

                                                                                                                                Last updated  12/19/03