Central Sleep ApneaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops over and over during sleep.
Sleep apnea - central; Obesity - central sleep apnea; Cheyne-Stokes - central sleep apnea; Heart failure - central sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea results when the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that cause breathing.
The condition often occurs in people who have certain medical problems. For example, it can develop in someone who has a problem with an area of the brain called the brainstem, which controls breathing.
Conditions that can cause or lead to central sleep apnea include:
- Problems that affect the brainstem, including brain infection, stroke, or conditions of the cervical spine (neck)
- Certain medicines, such as narcotic painkillers
- Being at high altitude
If the apnea is not associated with another disease, it is called idiopathic central sleep apnea.
A condition called Cheyne-Stokes respiration can affect people with severe heart failure or brain injuries and can be associated with central sleep apnea. The breathing pattern involves alternating deep and heavy breathing with shallow, or even not breathing, usually while sleeping.
Central sleep apnea is not the same as obstructive sleep apnea. With obstructive sleep apnea, breathing stops and starts because the airway is narrowed or blocked. Central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can be present in the same person.
People with central sleep apnea have episodes of disrupted breathing during sleep.
Other symptoms may include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Restless sleep
Other symptoms may occur if the apnea is due to a problem with the nervous system. Symptoms depend on the parts of the nervous system that are affected, and may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Swallowing problems
- Voice changes
- Weakness or numbness throughout the body
Treating the condition that is causing central sleep apnea can help manage symptoms. For example, if central sleep apnea is due to heart failure, the goal is to treat the heart failure itself.
Devices used during sleep to aid breathing may be recommended. These include nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) or adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). Some types of central sleep apnea are treated with medicines that stimulate breathing.
Oxygen treatment may help ensure the lungs get enough oxygen while sleeping.
If a sedative or narcotic medicine is causing the apnea, the dosage may need to be lowered or the medicine changed.
The FDA has approved a medical device (remede System) to treat central sleep apnea. The device is implanted in the chest. When a breathing pause is detected, the device stimulates the nerve that controls the breathing muscles so that you will breathe.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Robert Thomas is an Internal Medicine provider in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Thomas is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Central Sleep Apnea. His top areas of expertise are Central Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Idiopathic Hypersomnia, and Irregular Sleep-Wake Syndrome.
Pulmonary Division - Sleep Wake Center
Krishna Sundar is a Sleep Medicine provider in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Sundar is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Central Sleep Apnea. His top areas of expertise are Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Chronic Cough, Central Sleep Apnea, and Cerebral Hypoxia. Dr. Sundar is currently accepting new patients.
The Department Of Psychiatry
Rami Khayat is an Intensive Care Medicine provider in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Khayat is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Central Sleep Apnea. His top areas of expertise are Central Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness.
How well you do depends on the medical condition causing central sleep apnea.
The outlook is usually favorable for people with idiopathic central sleep apnea.
Complications may result from the underlying disease causing the central sleep apnea.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is usually diagnosed in people who are already severely ill.
Summary: 30% of patients with epilepsy suffer from drug-resistant seizures and are at risk of epilepsy-related complications, from cognitive dysfunctions to premature mortality. Both seizures and their complications are modulated by patients' vigilance states, with a tight and bi-directional interplay between sleep and epilepsy. Several epilepsy complications are associated with sleep, such as sleep-disord...
Summary: Myotonic dystrophy is associated with central sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, diminished working memory, impaired visuospatial skills, and deficits in problem-solving skills. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless fluid that surrounds and protects the brain. Changes in the composition of CSF can serve as early indicators of changes in brain activity and function. The purpose of...
Published Date: July 25, 2025
Published By: David A. Kaufman, MD, Director of Clinical Innovation and Education, Medical Critical Care, NYU Langone Medical Center, Tisch Hospital, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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