Posted by Bob P (129.65.46.87) on April 27, 2001 at 16:29:56:
In Reply to: Does lack of ox. from sleep apnea cause or bring on Clusters? posted by wendy on April 27, 2001 at 04:27:35:
There are different types of apnea.
Obstructive apnea - the most common type, caused by the soft tissue physically obstructing the airway. Attacks happen all night long just like snoring.
Central apnea - a cessation of breathing, not caused by a physical obstruction but by a disfunction of the nervous system. Believed to originate in the thalamic area.
Could it be that the clusterheads all had central apnea and the same disfunction in thalamic area that causes CH also causes the apnea?
If this were the case it would be two different conditions, caused by the same disfunction, yet neither has any effect on the other.