What Are the Different Types of Breathing-Related Sleep Disorders?
Individuals who suffer from sleep disturbance might have one of several breathing-related sleep disorders. Three types of disorders that are characterized by abnormal breathing during sleep are obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, central sleep apnea syndrome and central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome. When someone has one of the sleep apnea syndromes, he or she generally suffers from blocked airways, which impairs breathing. An individual who has central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome struggles with shallow breathing, which reduces oxygen in the blood. People who have one of these disorders typically struggle with excessive sleepiness during the day and difficulty sleeping at night.