“Can sleep apnea cause irregular breathing?”
My mother has been suffering from sleep apnea since the last two months. She snores heavily in her sleep. However I have noticed while she snores her breathing seems slightly irregular. Is this connected with sleep apnea?
3 Answers
Sleep apnea is the irregular breathing and insufficient breathing during sleep. on its own it should not be causing irregular breathing during the day, however, sleep apnea is associated with multiple other conditions that may in fact be causing irregular breathing; see a pulmonary specialist to assess further
Obstructive sleep apnea is defined by the patient having a significant frequency of obstructed and ineffective breaths. This can lead to significant health risks including sudden death, among others. It is extremely important that this condition be studied in a sleep lab and possibly treated if severe enough.
James L. Pearle, M.D.
James L. Pearle, M.D.
Yes, not all episodes are at regular intervals, they come at different times. It is important to have tests to differentiate between obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Andres Borja Alvarez, MD
Andres Borja Alvarez, MD
