For most, snoring is more of an annoyance than anything else, especially if you have a partner in the same room. Common causes of snoring include allergies; sinus infections; being overweight (excess tissue can weigh down on the airways); alcohol consumption (which relaxes the throat and tongue muscles); and sleep posture (sleeping on your back puts pressure on your throat).

But in some cases, that supposedly harmless snore can be an indication of a more serious health issue, especially if it occurs frequently and/or can’t be solved by lifestyle changes.

Sleep Apnea: The Basics

You may have heard of sleep apnea, a condition where breathing is shallow, or actually stopped for several seconds or minutes, during sleep. When the person starts breathing normally again, he or she lets out a snort or loud snore.

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that affects more than 18 million Americans, but many more cases go unreported because it’s so difficult to diagnose. Because they don’t get enough rest, people with sleep apnea often suffer from severe daytime sleepiness and drowsiness that can affect their jobs, relationships and safety. It also can obstruct the level of oxygen that gets to blood, which increases the risk for other health problems including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and depression.

Central Sleep Apnea: A Rare Neurological Disorder

One type of sleep apnea, called central sleep apnea, is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Unlike the more common obstructive sleep apnea, where there’s a physical blockage that prevents a full breath, central sleep apnea is a neurological disorder. It occurs when the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing.

The presence of central sleep apnea can indicate a more serious health problem, including problems in the brain stem or degenerative changes in the cervical spine or base of the skull. It’s also a fairly common occurrence in people who suffer from congestive heart failure.

Central sleep apnea can be accommodated with difficulty swallowing, voice changes and weakness or numbness throughout the body. These additional symptoms may signal an underlying neurological condition or disease.

Diagnosis, Treatment for Central Sleep Apnea

Because central sleep apnea often occurs as a result of another health condition, the diagnosis and treatment may be different from that of obstructive sleep apnea and depend on the underlying cause.

Your doctor may initially order a polysomnography test, which involves overnight monitoring of your breathing, muscle movements, blood oxygen levels and functions of the heart, lung and brain during sleep. If central sleep apnea is suspected, evaluations by specialists such as a cardiologist or neurologist may be recommended to look for any underlying health conditions.

Usually, treating the underlying cause of central sleep apnea will help control or eliminate it. There also are various airflow devices and masks that can provide temporary relief, either by altering the way the airways are functioning or providing supplemental oxygen. Sometimes, medication, such as acetazolamide, may be prescribed.

For more information on central sleep apnea, visit:

As I mentioned, central sleep apnea is not nearly as common as obstructive sleep apnea – the latter can be treated with lifestyle changes (such as losing weight, changing sleep positions or abstaining from alcohol) or special mouthpieces that are worn while you sleep. Before jumping to conclusions about which type of sleep apnea you might have – or whether or not you have sleep apnea at all – you should bring up your concerns with your physician.

Mind your health,

Dr. Keith Black