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Can Stress Cause Central Sleep Apnea?

Posted on Thu, 2 Jul 2015

Question: My brain stops telling my heart to beat Can stress cause the brain to malfunction like that

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Stress does not have a defined role in central sleep apnea.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

If you would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have told you that though stress does not have a direct relationship with 'central sleep apnea' but it can cause physiological central sleep apnea resulting from hyperventilation.

Some of the normal individuals may have central sleep apnea without any known cause.Primary central sleep apnea(central sleep apnea) though uncommon,but definitely exists.Whether Stress plays a role in it, is not established well.

Additionally,central sleep apnea may be associated with the following common conditions-
Diabetes,Hypothyroidism,Stroke,Heart disease,Kidney disease.

So,you may get screened for these disorders,in order to rule out common associations.

If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (21 hours later)

I forgot to tell you that when I was 6yrs. old I was struck by a falling post, which my Dad was knocking down off the porch. He said nobody move but I was scared and ran to Mom and it hit me in the top right back of my head. 123 stitches. Then over the remaining 68 years I have had accidents and or fell 7 times striking my head in the back. The last time was in April 2015 and it seems like each time after my head got worst. In April when I tripped over a step stool by my bed, ( my bed was up to my navel high) and I hit the hardwood floor and got a concussion. After that bang on my head I haven't felt as good in my head. Lot's of pressure, it feels like a band around my head. Clamping down on my head. I don't know if this of any significance or not. Thank you for the first answer you gave me. I will follow through on those test. XXXXXXX
oops correction only 12 stitches in my head after being hit by a post. I had no problems with my head until about 6 years ago, and it has gotten worse and worse. Now it gets to where I can't stand it. If I go sit in the sun it seems to subside down to where I can stand it.??
All blood work comes back normal. I am 5'2" 127 lbs. And I am very active. Except when my head hurts on a scale of 1 to 10 and it goes off the chart.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
CT scan of Brain

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up and telling further details.

In the background of repeated head injuries,I would advise you to undergo a CT scan of Brain as well(in addition to the evaluation plan we discussed),to look out for the brain damage,if any,resulting from the past head injuries.
Sometimes,brain damage due to the head injuries may also contribute to central sleep apnea.However,if that has some bearing on the apnea,we are unlikely to do anything significant regarding the old brain damage.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (24 hours later)

IF it is caused from brain damage, are you saying there is NOTHING that can be done to help me?

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Of course,there is always a hope.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

I did not say that there is not a hope. Old brain injury, if any, may be one of the factors contributing it's bit to the sleep apnea. However,there may be other associations as well. I just made a statement based on your medical history of repeated head injuries. Its not even clear till now that did your brain suffer damage because of head injuries or not? And if yes, even then, the part it plays in central sleep apnea can't be documented.

We have to find out the other associations, if any, and try to treat/manage them.
There is always a hope. Even you know it well.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)

I AM LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER FOR ALL THE PAIN. maybe the thyroid will be an answer. I will get everything checked that you advised . THANK YOU SO MUCH XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You're welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up and appreciating.

Please follow-up with the results of the investigations.I shall be waiting.
For now,if you have no further questions,please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj