Cheyne-Stokes breathing is a type of central sleep apnea characterized by a progressive rise and decline of respiration capacity, according to MayoClinic.com. At the lowest point of Cheyne-Stokes breathing airflow through the lungs can cease altogether. Cheyne-Stokes breathing is caused by various factors that impede the brain's ability to regulate respiration and pulse rate.
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart failure can cause Cheyne-Stokes breathing, notes the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Cheyne-Stokes breathing occurs in as much as 40 percent of patients suffering from congestive heart failure, notes the Sleep Breathing Journal. This is usually the result of diminished blood flow to the brain that may occur during heart failure. Slow blood flow may cause blood clots to form. The clots may travel through the blood vessels and damage and also cause a stroke, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. The stroke may inflict damage that causes Cheyne-Stokes breathing.
Damage to the Brain
Cheyne-Stokes breathing can result from damage to the brain, explains the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. This normally occurs when blood flow to the brain is diminished to the point that damage is inflicted on the parts of the brain that regulate breathing. Cheyne-Stokes breathing may result from this type of brain damage. Once the breathing regulating part of the brain is damaged Cheyne-Stokes breathing can occur, notes the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.
Hyperventilation
There is data that suggests that Cheyne-Stokes breathing can result from the combination of hyperventilation and decreased partial carbon dioxide pressure, according to the Sleep Journal. Moreover data collected from a 2009 study indicates that congestion in the lungs can also contribute to the development of Cheyne-Stokes breathing, explains the Sleep Journal.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Cheyne-Stokes breathing may also develop as a result of pulmonary hypertension, notes the Pediatric Pulmonology Journal. Persistent high pressure in the blood can damage blood vessels and the heart. Cheyen-Stokes breathing can develop as a complication, according to the Pediatric Pulmonology Journal.
Sleep Angle and Position
The posture of a person relative to the angle of the head and foot of the bed as well as their sleep position can cause Cheyne-Stokes breathing, notes the Sleep Journal. The position of the body during sleep can have a significant effect on the development of Cheyne-Stokes breathing. Data seems to suggest that sleeping supine and at a flat head angle can significantly increase the likelihood of Cheyne-Stokes breathing. A 2009 study collected data that indicates an inverse relationship between Cheyne-Stokes breathing and sleeping angle. The incidence of Cheyne-Stokes breathing tends to decrease as sleeping angle is increased, explains the Sleep Journal.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Central Sleep Apnea
- "Pediatric Pulmonology Journal"; Cheyne-Stokes respiration as an additional risk factor for pulmonary hypertension in a boy with trisomy 21 and atrioventricular septal defect; 2001 March 31
- "Sleep Breathing Journal"; Prevalence of Cheyne-Stokes respiration in modern treated congestive heart failure; 2009 May 13
- "Sleep Journal"; The Effect of Posture on Cheyne-Stokes Respirations and Hemodynamics in Patients with Heart Failure; 2009 November 1
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Heart Failure: Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders
