FAQ’s for Sleep Apnea
What is central sleep apnea?
In central sleep apnea, your brain forgets to tell your muscles that you need to breathe. Your throat and airway are normal – it’s your brain that has the trouble. Central sleep apnea is not as common as obstructive sleep apnea. At the present time there are no proven effective treatments for central sleep apnea. Often people with central sleep apnea have another medical condition, such as heart failure. Treating their other medical condition can improve the central sleep apnea. It is possible to have both obstructive and central sleep apnea. This is called mixed sleep apnea. Back to the Top
What’s the difference between mild, moderate and severe sleep apnea?
Sleep specialists decide if your sleep apnea is mild, moderate, or severe by counting how many times your breathing stops each hour. The times when your breathing stops are called “apneas” or “events”. They can count these events using polysomnography or portable home monitoring.
– 5 to 15 events per hour : Mild sleep apnea
-15 to 30 events per hour : Moderate sleep apnea
– over 30 events per hour : Severe sleep apnea
There are other things doctors consider when they are deciding how severe your sleep apnea is. Some other considerations are:
– How sleepy you feel
– How low your oxygen level dips
– How long your oxygen level stays below 90%
– Other medical conditions you may have, such as heart disease
Back to the Top
