Classification of Sleep Apnea

This cause includes both Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea. That means, the patient has airflow blockage in the respiratory tract, but on the other hand he/she also has defects in the central nervous system which controls breathing mechanism.

This is the most common type of apnea. Due to airway obstruction in the upper respiratory tract of the patient during sleep, such as narrow respiratory tract or relaxation/sagging of throat muscles, this blocks the respiratory tract so air cannot pass through.

This apnea is due to the brain’s central nervous system being affected by unknown factors, and being unable to transmit breathing signals to certain organs and tissues. Hence, breathing pauses occur during patient’s sleep