Sleep-related breathing disorders Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Sleep-related Breathing Disorders Overview Sleep-related breathing disorders are a group of conditions characterised by abnormal respiration during sleep. Causes, types, and symptoms These disorders can range from simple snoring to more serious conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), central sleep apnoea (CSA) and complex sleep apnoea syndrome.OSA: This is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. It occurs when the muscles in the throat relax excessively, causing a temporary blockage of the airways during sleep. Symptoms include loud snoring, choking or gasping sensation during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headache, fatigue, irritability, memory lapses, resistant hypertension (requirement of three or more antihypertensive drugs). Untreated OSA can lead to uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes and increases the risk of stroke, cardiac arrythmias and cardiac arrest.CSA: Unlike OSA, CSA is due to the brain failing to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. This results in periodic pauses in breathing during sleep. CSA is less common than OSA and is often associated with certain medical conditions, such as heart failure or stroke.Complex Sleep Apnoea Syndrome: This condition is a combination of OSA and CSA. It can occur when someone being treated for OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy develops CSA. Diagnosis Sleep historyovernight monitoring of your breathing and other body functions during sleep testing at a sleep center (Home sleep testing also might be an option)Tests to detect sleep apnea include:Nocturnal polysomnography. During this test, you're hooked up to equipment that monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.Home sleep tests. These tests usually measure your heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns. Your provider is more likely to recommend polysomnography in a sleep testing facility, rather than a home sleep test, if central sleep apnoea is suspected. Treatment For OSA:CPAP therapyOther airway pressure devices (auto-CPAP/BPAP) Oral appliancesSurgeryFor CSA:Treatment for associated medical problemsMedicine changes for managing breathingSupplemental oxygenAdaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)