Central apnea is characterized by which of the following?

Central apnea is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Cessation of both airflow and respiratory effort
• B. Airflow cessation with continued respiratory effort
• C. Cessation of respiratory effort only
• D. Normal breathing during brief pauses

Answer: (A)

Central apnea occurs when the brain’s drive to breathe temporarily stops, so the respiratory muscles do not activate and there is no airflow. This results in the absence of both respiratory effort and airflow for a period long enough to meet sleep-scoring criteria (typically about 10 seconds or more). That makes the option describing cessation of both airflow and respiratory effort the best fit. If the airway collapses but effort continues, airflow stops but chest and abdominal movements persist—that’s obstructive apnea. If there is only a cessation of respiratory effort without the accompanying pattern of central drive failure, or if breathing resumes normally during short pauses, those do not match central apnea.

Central apnea occurs when the brain’s drive to breathe temporarily stops, so the respiratory muscles do not activate and there is no airflow. This results in the absence of both respiratory effort and airflow for a period long enough to meet sleep-scoring criteria (typically about 10 seconds or more). That makes the option describing cessation of both airflow and respiratory effort the best fit. If the airway collapses but effort continues, airflow stops but chest and abdominal movements persist—that’s obstructive apnea. If there is only a cessation of respiratory effort without the accompanying pattern of central drive failure, or if breathing resumes normally during short pauses, those do not match central apnea.