What is Cheyne Stokes Breathing?

• Written by Mudit Handa

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Imagine a situation when you are asleep and suddenly you start gasping for air and struggle to breathe. A pattern of such abnormal breathing is called Cheyne Stokes Breathing. It involves episodes of slow or no breathing, which may indicate an underlying medical condition. It is more common during sleep and can last up to 2 minutes.

In this blog, we will explore the causes, symptoms and treatments of the breathing disorder to gain a deeper understanding of what is Cheyne-Stokes breathing. 

Decoding Cheyne Stokes Breathing

Cheyne Stokes respiration is a breathing disorder consisting of a periodic cycle of changing breathing patterns including:

• Hyperpnea - It is deep breathing which increases the volume of air in the lungs.
• Hypopnea - It follows hyperpnea and is characterised by slow and shallow breathing occurring for 10 or more seconds.
• Apnea - It is a temporary interruption of breathing or no breathing during sleep. In Cheyne Stokes respiration, breathing is interrupted due to the absence of signals from the brain to start breathing. This kind of apnea is called Central Sleep Apnea.

This cycle of decreasing and increasing breathing activity happens due to the delay of signals from the brain in detecting carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This delay causes a lack of respiratory control that affects normal breathing. 

What are Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Stages?

Cheyne Stokes respiration is characterised by three stages as given below:

1. A crescendo phase, where the transition from hypopnea to hyperpnea happens because of an increase in the volume of air with each breath.
2. A decrescendo phase, where the transition from hyperpnea to hypopnea happens due to reduced respiratory effort.
3. A central sleep apnea phase, where breathing stops completely happens at the end of the crescendo-decrescendo alteration cycle. In some cases, the end of the cycle is marked by central hypopnea.

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Causes

Several chronic health conditions can lead to the development of Cheyne Stokes breathing. The following are some common causes: 

1. Stroke: A stroke may interrupt blood flow to the brain causing damage to the part that controls breathing. This damage may cause Cheyne Stokes breathing disorder.
2. Congestive Heart Failure: A congestive heart failure affects cardiac function resulting in low cardiac output. The amount of blood your heart pumps per minute drops leading to a low oxygen supply to the brain and other body parts. To adjust oxygen level, the brain alters the breathing pattern that causes Cheyne Stokes to breathe. This is why a majority of people who have suffered from heart failure are prone to this breathing disorder.
3. Brain Tumours and Injuries: Brain tumours and injuries may impact your central nervous system affecting your respiratory function which causes breathing disorders. 
4. Pulmonary Edema: Pulmonary edema is a condition where fluid starts building up in the respiratory system making gas exchange difficult in the lungs and thus impacting oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Hence the body develops Cheyne Stokes breathing to cope with the imbalance in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
5. High Altitude: At high altitudes, oxygen levels are generally low, which can lead to abnormal breathing patterns. So to maintain oxygen and carbon dioxide balance, the body switches to Cheyne Stokes breathing as compensatory breathing.
6. Medication: Certain drugs are known to suppress the central nervous system, which can cause shallow breathing leading to Cheyne Stokes breathing.

Cheyne Stokes Breathing Symptoms

Cheyne Stokes breathing has symptoms similar to sleep apnea such as-

1. Excessive Sleeping during Daytime: This happens because sleep is disrupted during the night due to irregular breathing which causes frequent arousal at night. 
2. Dyspnea: Dyspnea is the difficulty in breathing caused by abnormal breathing patterns, making it harder to breathe during certain periods.
3. Snoring: The restricted airflow during the slow breathing phase causes loud snoring.
4. Sudden Coughing: Sudden coughing during the night also happens due to disrupted breathing patterns.

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Treatment

Treatment of Cheyne Stokes breathing involves addressing the underlying medical issue and treating its symptoms. It may include medication, use of breathing assistance devices and lifestyle changes. In addition, certain therapies are also helpful in treating this condition such as-

• Oxygen therapy
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
• Adaptive Servo-Ventilation Therapy
• Use of Respiratory stimulants

Is Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Dangerous?

Yes, Cheyne Stokes breathing can be dangerous if left untreated. This is because the low oxygen level in blood during an episode of apnea can cause damage to the heart or disturb its rhythm which can lead to Cheyne-Stokes breathing death. It is important for patients to be aware of their symptoms and seek the right treatment for this breathing disorder, as it not only helps in relieving the symptoms but also manages the underlying health condition. 

Concluding Lines 

Cheyne Stokes breathing is a compensatory breathing mechanism that the brain uses to balance low oxygen levels in the blood. It is more common in patients with advanced heart failure, or a condition affecting the circulatory system or lungs. This type of breathing pattern may also be seen just before the death of a person. 

The best way to prevent this breathing disorder is to maintain good health and an active lifestyle. Care health insurance provides coverage for preventive health check-ups and also covers chronic ailments under its critical illness plan. You can buy the affordable health insurance plans online through our website and get access to more than 11400 cashless network hospitals and 24800+ cashless healthcare providers including IPD/OPD/Diagnostic/Pharmacy etc.

>> Also Read: What is the Importance of Heart Mediclaim?

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