Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway narrows or closes during sleep.
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain's breathing signals are disrupted.
Your sleep apnea type helps determine appropriate treatment.
The types of sleep apnea share one feature: repeated breathing interruptions during sleep. However, their causes differ. Comparing obstructive vs. central sleep apnea, and understanding mixed apnea, helps explain why treatment options vary.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) develops when relaxed tissues narrow or block the upper airway. Your body continues trying to breathe, but airflow is restricted. Signs include loud snoring, gasping, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue.
Treatment may include an oral appliance that positions the lower jaw forward to help keep the airway open or CPAP.
What Is Central Sleep Apnea?
Wondering what causes central sleep apnea? Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain temporarily fails to send the breathing muscles the signals they need. It may be associated with medical conditions such as heart failure or medications that affect breathing.
Unlike obstructive apnea, the main problem isn't a physical airway blockage. Treatment addresses the underlying cause and breathing pattern, not airway obstruction.
What Is Mixed Sleep Apnea?
Mixed sleep apnea includes both central and obstructive features. During a mixed event, breathing effort may initially stop and then return while the airway remains blocked. Because multiple mechanisms are involved, treatment must address the relevant components.
Why Your Sleep Apnea Type Matters
A qualified medical professional interprets a sleep study to distinguish these breathing events. Oral appliance therapy primarily treats obstructive sleep apnea and does not correct the disrupted breathing signals of central sleep apnea. However, oral appliances can help people with mixed apnea may need an individualized approach.
Explore Sleep Apnea Treatment in Marquette, MI
At Levätä Sleep, we help patients throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula explore oral appliance therapy for diagnosed sleep apnea or snoring. If you are reviewing your options, contact us to schedule a free consultation and learn whether a custom oral appliance may fit your needs.
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