Central Sleep Apnea

Overview

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is much less common than obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is also less well understood. Unfortunately, CSA's health effects are just as serious. But at Mayo Clinic, cardiologists who are also trained in sleep medicine bring their rare combination of expertise to diagnose and effectively treat CSA. Patients treated at Mayo Clinic thus benefit from a broadened perspective, as well as from the deep experience Mayo physicians gain through treating many people with the disorder each year.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of central sleep apnea involves both searching for underlying causes and getting as complete and accurate a picture of the patient's sleep-disordered breathing as possible. At Mayo Clinic, patients may be evaluated by experts from several different specialties, in addition to undergoing a polysomnogram.

Mayo Clinic's sleep center enables easy access to cardiovascular tests, allowing doctors to immediately explore any heart disorder links. Mayo Clinic operates state-of-the-art sleep centers at all three sites, each fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; in fact, Mayo Clinic in Rochester has one of the largest sleep diagnostic facilities in the United States.

Treatment

Treatment for CSA at Mayo Clinic is highly individualized and treatment plans may change as new options become available. Diagnosing and treating an underlying condition will alleviate CSA in some patients. Other patients will need additional assistance. Read more about central sleep apnea treatment options.

About Central Sleep Apnea

In CSA, the brain fails to generate a rhythmic signal to breathe during sleep. The reductions and pauses in breathing (apneas) interrupt sleep (whether or not they actually wake the sleeper), which can result in severe daytime sleepiness. The apneas also strain the cardiovascular system and can raise blood pressure.

There are several types of CSA, classified by their causes.