Experts Say Central Sleep Apnea Needs New Guidelines: Central sleep apnea (CSA)—a disorder that is less known but as serious and as obstructive sleep apnea is getting attention nowadays with the new research published in the months of January and February 2025. CSA that is less known than obstructive sleep apnea has been found to be related to the heart’s improper functioning which may be covered up, a recent study came to the conclusion.
According to recent studies, the new approach in the medical world is that CSS is recoverable if detected at an early stage that could in turn reduce the co-morbidity of cardiovascular diseases, In a recent study Dr. JS Bashir was concluded that not curing the Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) early can cause stroke, heart attack, and neurological diseases
What Is Central Sleep Apnea?
Central sleep apnea is not the same as obstructive sleep apnea. In CSA, the brain does not send appropriate signals to the muscles that regulate breathing. This, in turn, causes breathing cessation during the sleep phase despite the fact that the do-not-block airway is available.
Obstructive apnea is a loud, noisy problem caused by a dry throat, and this is the reason for sleep-talking. On the other hand, CSA is a disease in which a person does not snore, breathes quietly, and suffers from obstructed airways but without a sleep study, it is hard to diagnose.
Cocoa benefits to heart
According to a major study launched in Sleep in January 2025, it was announced that several patients with heart problems were found to have apnea. These include those with:
- Left heart failure (both systolic and diastolic)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart blockage
- Carotid artery stenosis
- A history of a stroke
During the research, they discovered that CSA induces the deterioration of nocturnal oxygen saturation and sun-sequently causes habitual waking ups. They found out that these disturbances activate the sympathetic nervous system thereby putting the heart and blood vessels under increased stress even during a day time.
This is to say that if it is not taken care of in time, untreated CSA might be a silent accomplice of high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.
Expert Panel Urges New Guidelines
In February 2025, a panel of sleep medicine specialists published updated recommendations in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. They sounded an alarm that the current guidelines might not be sufficient in the identification and treatment of CSA.
The panel urged the following:
- Standardized diagnostic tools
- Accurate screening methods for the most prone ones
- Further treatment studies with new drug trials
Moreover, they spoke about the current choices including positive airway pressure (PAP) and phrenic nerve stimulation, all of which exhibited great potential in decreasing CSA episodes.
However, the panel stressed the fact that more research is necessary as soon as possible, particularly for those who do not improve with the rest of the available treatments.
Case Study Highlights Diagnostic Challenges
In December 2024, Respiratory Medicine Case Reports published a case study where a patient with severe CSA was a participant. That time the patient had been previously operated on for a brainstem chordoma, a rare brain tumor, a few rare to find types of cancer.
During a sleep test (polysomnogram), doctors noticed many central apneas without showing any evidence of low levels of oxygen or shallowness of breath. The study indicated that CSA can be a secondary problem in patients with constant nerve damage and the symptoms might be quite different.
This is a perfect example of the difficulties that thorough CSA practically has in diagnosing, especially when non-typical cases are examined.
What This Means for Patients
The new studies propose that the CSA condition may be underdiagnosed, particularly in patients with cardiovascular or neurological diseases. Because CSA is not commonly symptomatic and can be manifested without loud snoring or choking, it may go unnoticed for years.
Now medical experts advise that people who have heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or who have already had a stroke should consider a sleep evaluation even if they have no significant symptoms.
If you undergo unexplained fatigue, morning headaches, or you have difficulty concentrating, it is possible that you are the patient through which the healthcare provider has sleep apnea screening.
Central sleep apnea is not only a common sleep disorder, but it can also be a health concern that signals to deeper health problems. As a recent study suggests, CSA and heart and brain health are related to the previously mentioned, early detection of the condition will be important.
The effort on the part of the professionals to improve diagnostic techniques and treatments that are available is taking place now. How to recognize the signs of CSA is a skill that could save many people’s lives. If either you or someone you love is in danger, do not overlook the unnoticed symptoms.