From snoring to stoppage of breathing, sleep apnea should not be taken lightly. As with other diseases and conditions, there are different types of sleep apnea you might be suffering from. For this reason, it is important to understand each type in order to better understand your specific condition for proper diagnosis.
Sleep Apnea affects the way you breathe when you’re sleeping. And, if you or a loved one suffers from this, you might already know the side effects of that, so let’s take a brief look at Obstructive, Central and Complex Sleep Apnea:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway. This often causes you to snore loudly—we know how disruptive that can be!
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
Central sleep apnea is a much less common type of sleep apnea that involves the central nervous system. It occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. If you suffer from central sleep apnea it is likely that you seldom snore.
Complex Sleep Apnea
Complex sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. It is a form of sleep apnea in which central apneas persist or emerge during attempts to treat obstructive events with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level device.
Interested in learning more about each type of sleep apnea? Contact Dr. Kambiz Kashfian and his team of professionals to gain a better understanding of your specific sleep apnea type and how treatment can help to improve your symptoms.