Obstructive compared to Central Apneas

Are either central or obstructive apneas considered more harmful than the other? Why are sleep doctors contented to reduce ahi due to central apneas to 5-7, but want to reduce ahi due to obstructive apneas to less than 1 or 2?

Here's a link with info on Centrals:

viewtopic/t50411/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47 ... 79#p435379

marco wrote:Are either central or obstructive apneas considered more harmful than the other? Why are sleep doctors contented to reduce ahi due to central apneas to 5-7, but want to reduce ahi due to obstructive apneas to less than 1 or 2?

Both are VERY bad for your body.

Prior to getting my ASV unit, I had very bad problems with uncontrolled high blood pressure. I was sleeping two to four hours a night if I was lucky. And the high blood pressure, combined with Ibuprofen (an NSAID) and Type 2 Diabetes led to kidney disease. It is now stable, since my blood pressure is under control due to use of an ASV unit. But I can emphatically state that unmanaged central sleep apnea is VERY bad for you.

So, "Why are sleep doctors contented to reduce ahi due to central apneas to 5-7, but want to reduce ahi due to obstructive apneas to less than 1 or 2?" Well, first, it depends on the sleep doctor. If they are aware of ASV units, they will try those. And they can often bring central apneas to zero.

But in general central apnea tends to be harder to control and more difficult to identify the underlying problem. Is it due to heart issues? Is it due to a blood chemistry problem? Is it due to neuromuscular issues? Is it due to problems with the central nervous system? Is it due to problems with the autonomic nervous system?

The other thing is that that 5-7 "central apnea" reported on a xPAP unit may be false "central apnea". You could have just awoken enough to need to fall asleep again and that can cause breathing instability (including pauses in breathing). But once asleep you don't have any other sign of central apneas.

So, between the fact that it can be harder to control and the fact that xPAP units may report an apnea as a central event, when it is not. Well, between those, getting central apneas into the 5 to 7 range makes sense. It's generally enough to make sleep "good enough".

But if it is not, and you continue to fight with symptoms, then DEFINITELY discuss it with your sleep doctor. I spent years trying to get my doctors to address my increasing central apnea problems. It's led to some serious consequences to my health. So, now I try to help others avoid similar problems.

Hope that helps.