A serious (even life threatening) condition that involves a temporary suspension of breathing while sleeping. All types of sleep apnea are dangerous and should be taken very seriously. There are three types common to Chiari and/or it’s comorbid conditions:

• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) – When one stops breathing because the brain stops telling it to try (respiratory effort); common amongst Chiarians that have had a measure of damage to their brainstem and/or Vagus Nerve (damaging their Autonomic Nervous System).
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – When one stops breathing because of an obstruction (with respiratory effort unchanged); common amongst those with Ehler’s-danlos Syndrome because of their strong tendency for prolapse.
• Complex Sleep Apnea – A combination of both CSA and OSA (periods with and without respiratory effort).

Treatments: Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure device (BiPAP or BPAP) or a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device (CPAP), Losing and maintaining weight can aid in correcting Obstructive Sleep Apnea.