Central sleep apnea, upper airway resistance and sleep

摘要

The question of why 'central' apnea is seen is a recurring theme. The term 'diaphragmatic' apnea is a better term than 'central' apnea as the latter indicates a dysfunction in the medulla, which is rare. The short response to the question raised is: 'because the upper airway is not completely open'. This is a very common consequence when dental appliances are used to treat sleep-disordered breathing, but the response needs an explanation.