Does Central Sleep Apnea get worse over time?

[icipher]

Hello,

I was diagnosed with central sleep apnea about 2 months ago. I just got my ASV machine after bipap wasn't quite enough. My first week on ASV my AHI is averaging 2.

I am 30 years old, healthy weight with no known underlying health conditions so they're assuming my case is idiopathic(no known cause)

My question is this: since i am pretty young, i hopefully have a lot of my life left to live. Having CSA, is there evidence that it gets worse over time? Are any of you with CSA managing just fine over a long period of time?

Hope to get some information on this.

Thanks
Chris

[JDS74]

I was diagnosed with idiopathic CSA and idiopathic Cheyne-Stokes on top of OSA three years ago.
I stuck with my auto BiPap machine for that time. Recently, my CSA started to get worse so I'm now on a AutoSV Advanced ASV Machine that seems to be dealing with all three conditions. It's only been about 10 days so far for me but I do feel better in the morning although my numbers are worse. I believe that is because the ASV machine reacts so quickly, I don't get quite the disturbed sleep as a result of these events.

So the short answer is yes it can but not necessarily.
Don't spend a lot of time fretting about whether or not it will get worse in your particular case.
Get the appropriate software and track how you are actually doing.
Since the diagnosis is idiopathic, you don't have be concerned about a lesion getting worse or your heart getting worse either. Both of these are causes of CSA and Cheyne-Stokes and neither of us has either condition.

BTW in doctor speak, idiopathic means "We don't have a clue about cause."

[Apneanderthal]

While I can't comment on the long term, its nice to see someone else like me. I'm 34 and have complex (both obstructive and central) apnea. I have an ASV and it's been two weeks since I started. I have noticed that the central apneas are all over the board. Some nights I have lots, others very few. One thing I have already discovered is to stay away from benadryl! Makes the central apneas skyrocket, which means you might wake up more often with the high pressures.

Good luck, and enjoy the improved sleep!

-Tim

[BlackSpinner]

EVERYTHING gets worse over time - trust me on that.

[chunkyfrog]

The Benadryl comment was right on!
Central apneas are increased by central nervous system (CNS) depressants,
like benadryl, alcohol, opiates, and many sleeping aids, tranquilizers and what-have-you.
Look up a list of these substances and remove all you can (safely) from your daily regimen.
(consult your physician before withdrawing from any prescription drugs of this type.)

[JohnBFisher]

Depends on the cause. If your central apnea is the result of a neuro-degenerative disorder, then yes, it will get worse. If it's due to pressure induced central sleep apnea, then no, it won't get much worse. (Oh, some over time, but not all that much).

Doncha just love such specific answers? ... ...

[icipher]

Depends on the cause. If your central apnea is the result of a neuro-degenerative disorder, then yes, it will get worse. If it's due to pressure induced central sleep apnea, then no, it won't get much worse. (Oh, some over time, but not all that much).

Doncha just love such specific answers? ... ...

Thanks for the responses. Oddly, alcohol seems to lessen my centrals. Most of my centrals seem to be at sleep onset. weird huh?

JohnB, I had an MRI which came back negative and my echocardiogram looks good. I don't know what to say. I will say that i am scared of this CSA getting worse.

[Apneanderthal]

Funny, my centrals are mostly at sleep onset too. I really wish they were in the deeper sleep phases since when I'm just starting to fall asleep, its so much easier to get woken back up by the sudden higher pressures.

As for alcohol, you dog! I'm going to have to do some experimentation to see if it makes a difference for me. I live in Colorado, which means its all about the craft beer!

Tim

[icipher]

Funny, my centrals are mostly at sleep onset too. I really wish they were in the deeper sleep phases since when I'm just starting to fall asleep, its so much easier to get woken back up by the sudden higher pressures.

As for alcohol, you dog! I'm going to have to do some experimentation to see if it makes a difference for me. I live in Colorado, which means its all about the craft beer!

Tim

Hah, I am in Minneapolis where we also have an amazing craft beer selection.

I want to make it clear that i am not getting bombed, but a 2-3 beers seems to lessen my centrals. My theory(and my doctors) is that since my centrals occur more at sleep onset, the small buzz i have relaxes me and gets me to sleep faster, thus circumventing them usually.

[Apneanderthal]

the small buzz i have relaxes me and gets me to sleep faster, thus circumventing them usually.

That's an interesting point. I hadn't thought of that. The buzz helps you "go over the cliff" faster. Like I said, I plan to experiment a bit. It's only been two weeks so I haven't had enough time to do much testing. One variable at a time after all.