What are the Different Types of Sleep Apnea?

Apnea is a sleep disorder which hampers breathing during sleep. There are two types of Apnea, central sleep and obstructive sleep.

Breathing problems during sleep is a common disorder among many people. In medical terms, it is known as sleep apnea. The period of time during sleep when there is a significant reduction in breathing or breathing completely stops is known as apnea. If we consider the time parameters, a period of 10 seconds when breathing stops during sleep can be termed as apnea. There are 2 different forms of this disorder. The first is known as obstructive sleep apnea and the second form is central sleep apnea. A third form of Apnea is known as mixed sleep apnea.  Let us find out what the differences are to help you tell which form of apnea you may suffer from.

During a sudden attack of apnea during sleep, a person may wake up completely or come out from a deep level of sleep to a shallow sleeping state. Apnea is measured by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). When there is an obstruction in the airway, it is known as obstructive apnea. When the brain fails to transmit the right messages during sleep causing disruption of air-flow it is known as central apnea. The third form is a combination of both.

If there are pauses in breathing during sleep, it should be immediately reported to the doctor. Apnea syndrome is mostly seen in people with cardiovascular problems. If it is not reported in time, apnea can be fatal. It is important to eradicate the root cause of this disorder.

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