central sleep apnea
noun
variants
also central apnea
: sleep apnea that is caused by a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center
Less common is central apnea (not usually linked to snoring), in which the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles.—
Andrew Weil, Self Healing
compare obstructive sleep apnea
Andrew Weil, Self HealingCite this Entry
“Central sleep apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/central%20sleep%20apnea. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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