The other reasons that contribute to obstructive sleep apnea could be constricted sleeping
position, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, and excessive
stress.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA):
It is a not-so-common form. It usually occurs when the breathing muscles stop momentarily
while communication with the brain is disturbed. Other than the similar symptoms as
obstructive sleep apnea, there are also symptoms such as numbness of body parts, changes in
your voice, body weakness, and difficulty in swallowing.
CSA has symptoms that are similar to obstructive sleep apnea such as lack of attentiveness,
heart diseases, high blood pressure, irritability, and excessive daytime sleepiness. You will
also suffer from an after-effect called "Ondine's curse" which causes you to continue having
difficulty breathing easily when you are asleep.
A sufferer of CSA that lives above sea level or having heart attacks or brain injuries might
even suffer apnoeic episodes while they are wide-awake.
Mixed Sleep Apnea consists of both CSA and OSA. It occurs when both obstruction of the
airways and improper functioning of the brain.
Snorers regularly gasp a lot of air while snoring and it stretches the inner soft tissue in the
throat. As time goes by, the stretching will cause the blockade of the air movement.
The balance of oxygen will be affected when you are unable to inhale oxygen and exhale
carbon dioxide due to breathing difficulty at night. In that condition, your brain will have to
awaken you up in order to restart your breathing system.