CSA questions/concerns

I just had a meeting with my doc regarding my recent sleep study. He surprised the heck out of me when he told me that I may have "central sleep apnea"

I have a chardiogram followed by an MRI...then another sleep study.

Does anyone have any feedback about their experiences with CSA?

When the diagnosis is obstructive sleep apnea, the primary focus is treating the obstruction. On the other hand, when the diagnosis is central sleep apnea, the primary focus at first is attempting to ascertain what likely is causing it, in case there is an identifiable underlying condition causing the centrals as a symptom. Treating a cause, when known, is better than simply treating the centrals. So your doc is being smart to look at possible cardiac, neurological, or lifestyle factors.

Ask for detailed printouts of your sleep studies. Make sure you understand the methodical approach of your doc. Don't panic. There are things that can be done to help your sleep these days even when no root cause of the centrals is found.

I had many centrals during my diagnostic and titration sleep studies. But in my case they went away after a while, once my obstructive apneas were treated. I still will develop centrals if I sleep at too high an altitude, so I try not to be in high altitudes longer than one or two days. But now at regular altitudes I do fine.

There are 2 types of sleep apnoea, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and central sleep apnoea (CSA). OSA means that your upper airway relaxes too much in sleep causing it to collapse and obstruct the airflow to your lungs. Your brain has to stop sleeping for a moment to tell the muscles to open up your airway again, causing a disruption in your sleep and an increase in your heart rate. CSA means that the muscles around your lungs aren't pushing the air in and out properly. Instead, sometimes they stop working for a few breaths at a time. The effect it very much the same as for OSA.

Both are significant medical issues and both are treatable by PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) therapy of one kind or another.