Sleep apnea is a common condition by which a sufferer experiences breathing pauses frequently during sleep. The following explains the 3 types of sleep apnea and a few of the reasons people experience the condition.
OSA - Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common variety of sleep apnea. OSA is caused by a collapse of the upper airway that makes it difficult to get air into the lungs. Obstructive sleep apnea is most common in men but can occur in women, and is more common in those who are overweight as well, particularly those people who sleep on their backs.
There is usually some kind of abnormality in the lower face, such as an unusually small chin, an overbite, or a large tongue when people of normal weight suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.
CSA - Central Sleep Apnea
CSA, central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea. CSA happens when the brain does not send normal signals to the chest to breathe properly while asleep. Typical causes of central sleep apnea are severe heart disease or neurologic disease (a disease of the brain). Particularly strong pain medications like morphine and other narcotics have also been known to cause central sleep apnea.
MSA - Mixed Sleep Apnea
MSA, mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the first two types. MSA will generally begin as central sleep apnea, and then develop into obstructive sleep apnea over time.