At this point you have probably heard that there are different types of sleep apnea for you to worry about, but what are they and what causes them? We’re going to discuss central sleep apnea, and why you might want to consider a home sleep study to correct it. One very important thing to remember is that sleep apnea can cause serious problems, and it can even lead to death when left untreated. This makes a home sleep study more important than you realize, but before we get into that, we’re going to talk about what central sleep apnea is and how it is going to affect you.

What is Central Sleep Apnea?

While there are three types of sleep apnea to concern yourself with, at the very core of each one of them, you have similar symptoms. Those who suffer from sleep apnea will fail to breathe properly during the night, and as a result, they often awaken for seemingly no reason (from their point of view) or they snore uncontrollably. This is only the surface of the problem, however, and we are going to delve deeper into it.

Central Sleep apnea, unlike obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles, particularly those that control breathing. It is important to note that central sleep apnea is much less common that obstructive sleep apnea, and it may occur as a result of other onset conditions or circumstances including:

• Heart Failure
• Stroke
• Sleeping at High Altitudes

As far as treatment of the condition is concerned, it can be addressed in two different ways. In one instance it can be addressed by treating the existing conditions, for example, the high altitude sleeping could be rectified. In another instance, if the situation cannot be rectified, then a device for assisted breathing could be supplied to the patient.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea comes with many symptoms tacked on and it will be necessary for the patient to pay attention, as it can be difficult to diagnose sleep apnea without the entire picture. Watch out for these:

• Shortness of Breath
• Sudden Awakenings
• Cessation of Breathing at Night (usually observed by someone else)
• Insomnia
• Trouble Concentrating
• Nocturnal Chest Pain
• Snoring
• Headaches

Many people make the mistake of associating snoring only with obstructive sleep apnea, however, this can also be quite present in central sleep apnea. Keep in mind that while it might not be quite as front and center, it is still there, and it is still a warning indicator.

Is a Doctor Necessary?

Sufferers of sleep apnea need to see a doctor, but, as we said, it can be very difficult to determine the full extent of the condition or confirm that it is really a factor. That being said, you need to make sure that you watch out for the symptoms that we mentioned above, and, if you are experiencing any of them, it might be worthwhile to have someone close to you pay attention to your sleeping habits. Additionally, you can request your presiding physician to order a sleep study the next time you go in for your checkup. If it is found that you do indeed suffer from central sleep apnea or one of the other variants, a CPAP or APAP machine may be prescribed to you.

In Home Sleep Studies

The rise of in-home sleep studies has made it possible for individuals to conduct the study at home rather than trying to make it to a medical facility. Those who need to visit such a facility are far less likely to actually get the test done as it interrupts their day and may force them to reschedule critical events. In addition to that, let’s face it, sleeping in a laboratory really makes it difficult to provide a good result as it tends to be an unfamiliar environment.

An at home sleep study and a home oxygen test will give the patient more freedom and ultimately more flexibility. The devices we provide can record results which can be delivered to a physician shortly afterward, allowing for a fast and reliable diagnosis for the patient. While laboratory studies will still be required to an extent, the in-home study has replaced it for the most part and will continue to be a strong player in helping to determine treatment.