When we breathe at night, it’s done by the brain sending signals to the muscles that regulate the breathing. This also then leads onto the way the heart pushes blood and oxygen around the bloodstream. Central apnea however is the term used when the brain stops sending signals to these muscles and you stop breathing over and over again. It will normally occur in people in the city of Leeds that have had medical problems with the spine or that have had neurological problems in the passed that in some way, has interfered with the brainstem- with is the organ that deals with the muscles that control the breathing. Often term central sleep apnea, it can be very life threatening. Other than the causes already talked about, other causes of the disorder are obesity, people with problems associated with the spine such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, those who are on heavy medication and people with congestive heart disorders. The symptoms vary from fatigue, headaches when you wake and problems with sleeping, but treating it is complex is complex: the heart can be repaired, and dentists can supply devices to aid the breathing- some drugs are used too to help- but in people that have a damaged brainstem- it becomes difficult.
Tags: central apnea
