Taken From: https://remede.zoll.com/central-sleep-apnea/ 

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain’s area that controls your breathing does not send proper signals and does not function properly during sleep. This condition is different from obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing stops because the throat muscles relax and block the airway. Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea. 

The pauses in breathing can last up to 20 seconds and occur mainly because your brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing (your diaphragm and intercostal muscles). With CSA, you do not try to breathe at all, or your breathing is so shallow that the gas exchange in your lungs is insufficient.

Common symptoms of CSA include:

  • Observed episodes of not breathing during sleep.
  • Sudden awakenings with shortness of breath.
  • Not being able to stay asleep, known as insomnia.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness, known as hypersomnia.
  • Trouble focusing.
  • Mood changes.
  • Morning headaches.
  • Snoring.

Medical Conditions and Risk Factors Associated with CSA:

  • Primary Central Sleep Apnea
  • Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Pattern
  • Arnold-Chiari Malformation
  • Medical Conditions such as heart problems, kidney failure, hypothyroid disease and neurological diseases
  • Drug or Substance Use 
  • High-Altitude Periodic Breathing

What is the treatment for CSA?

  • Addressing associated medical problems. 
  • Gradual reduction of opioid medications 
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) 
  • Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV) 
  • Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
  • Supplemental Oxygen