Complex Apnea
Posted on | December 7, 2009 | No Comments
Complex apnea is another term for ‘mixed’ apnea, which describes apnea which is caused by a combination of the two main forms. These forms are ‘obstructive apnea’ – apnea caused by physical blockages in the airways; and ‘central apnea’ – apnea caused by malfunction in the brain that means it ‘forgets’ to breath and doesn’t respond to the fact that there is insufficient oxygen in the blood and too much carbon dioxide. It is also possible in some cases that prolonged cases of obstructive sleep apnea can lead to central apnea.
This combined form of apnea requires treatment on two fronts to address the two issues surrounding the problem. First of all the obstruction will be addressed, usually by advising a diet (obstructions are often caused by large necks in overweight patients) and changing sleeping position possibly using specially designed cushions. In more severe cases that don’t respond to home treatment, patients may require ‘CPAP’ (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) utilising a constant stream of pressurised air to keep the airways open.
To address the issues in the brain however is more complicated and no method has been shown to be completely successful. Some studies have suggested a link between central sleep apnea and iron deficiency making iron a popular supplement.
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