Central Sleep Apnea Question
by Seanna Maraman
(Tampa, Florida)
My daughter was diagnosed with central sleep apnea with no reasoning as to why she has this.Two sleep studies were preformed to make sure it was infact central and not obstructive.Both studies came back central apnea.Doctor is reluctant to put her on medications due to side effects.I was wondering if I should in face request for an MRI to be preformed.Something is causing this and I want to know why.
Answer
Central sleep apnea is a condition where the brain is ceasing to tell the body to breathe for moments at a time while you are sleeping. Central sleep apnea is less common but can still have devastating effects. Some symptoms of central sleep apnea are frequent awakenings, being very tired during the day, and short pauses of breathing once or several times a night. This type of sleep apnea can also be tested for by a polysomnography.
If your daughter has central sleep apnea, you should be interested in the course and you can request MRI. If you are better informed you will be able to make better decisions for your child.
