Complications

Central sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Some complications include:

• Fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make normal, restorative sleep impossible. People with central sleep apnea often have severe fatigue, daytime drowsiness and irritability.

  You might have difficulty concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching television or even while driving.

• Cardiovascular problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during central sleep apnea can adversely affect heart health.

  If there's underlying heart disease, these repeated multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) worsen prognosis and increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms.