Cheyne-Stokes Breathing - An Abnormal Breathing

Introduction

Several physiological processes keep us going and help us live. Breathing is one such process. It helps us breathe fresh air full of oxygen and removes toxic gases from our bodies. In a normal human being, breathing is effortless and silent. Only when you closely observe someone you can see the chest movement while breathing. However, if someone has some issues, this effortless and silent process becomes tedious.

What Is Cheyne-Stokes Breathing?

Cheyne-Stokes breathing is a type of abnormal breathing pattern. This abnormal breathing pattern was first scientifically described by John Cheyne and William Stokes.

In the Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern, you follow a cyclic pattern of breathing, with progressively deeper and faster breathing followed by a sudden pause. This sudden pause or stoppage of breathing is called apnea.

This cyclic breathing pattern occurs while the person is sleeping. However, in some cases, it can also be seen while the person is awake.

You can divide this breathing pattern into three phases;

1. Deep and shallow breathing (bradypnea).

2. Fast and shallow breathing (tachypnea).

3. Stoppage in breathing (apnea).

In normal cases, you breathe 12 to 20 times in a minute. However, if you are having Cheyne-Stokes breathing, each of your breathing cycles can take from thirty seconds to three minutes.

Why Does Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Occur?

The main function of our breathing cycle is to supply oxygen to our bodies. As a result, the normal breathing cycle maintains a balance among the gases within our bodies and keeps the gas pressure within our bodies in check.

Not only the breathing process but several other factors, such as heart condition, blood flow, and blood pressure, help in this process.

However, if you are unwell or suffering from certain medical issues, your heart, blood flow, and blood pressure will not work properly. In such conditions, your blood will not flow properly. As a result of this, the chemical sensors present in the body, which detect blood gas pressure and gas concentration in the blood, do not work properly. Due to this, the oxygen concentration in the blood suddenly drops to a dangerous limit. At this point, our body tries to save itself and accelerates the breathing pattern. This causes rapid and deep breathing, which is known as hyperventilation.

As you already know, your body is not working properly, and the chemical receptors are not functioning well. The rapid breathing will rapidly increase the oxygen level in your body and put the carbon dioxide level at a dangerously low level.

Again, your body will try to cope with this situation. As a result, the body will send signals to the breathing center, which will temporarily stop the functioning of the breathing muscles. This causes a temporary pause in your breathing, which is known as apnea. In cheye-stroke breathing, this process keeps on rotating and leads to a difficult breathing cycle.

What Are the Common Causes of Cheyne-Stokes Respiration?

This type of abnormal breathing pattern is more common among older people with specific medical issues. These health issues are;

1. Heart failure or congestive heart failure is the most common cause of such a dysfunctional breathing pattern. Almost 25 to 50 percent of patients with heart failure show this type of breathing pattern.

2. Stroke is another main cause of Cheyne-Stokes breathing. It destroys different parts of the brain, which are associated with chemical receptors in the blood. These chemical receptors do not accurately detect gas concentration in the blood.

3. Even brain tumors or injury due to brain surgery can cause such issues.

4. If you are suffering from end-stage kidney disease or severe kidney dysfunction, you can also suffer from this.

5. Sometimes fluid accumulates inside your chest due to severe lung infections, heart issues, or conditions like severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Such conditions can lead to abnormal breathing.

6. If you are having carbon dioxide poisoning or a dangerously low sodium level in the blood, you can have such a problem.

Though most of the causes of Cheyne-Stokes respiration are related to diseases, natural phenomena like high altitude can also cause it.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cheyne-Stokes Breathing?

The common signs and symptoms of Cheyne-Stokes respiration include;

1. The most common sign you will notice while someone is having such issues is loud snoring.

2. You may also notice sudden jerks or involuntary movement of the limbs.

3. The person will feel short of breath if he lies down.

4. Also, it hampers the night sleep; a person often wakes up while sleeping due to suffocation.

You might be wondering if Cheyne-Stokes breathing is dangerous. It is often associated with the end of life, indicating a serious underlying condition. The truth is, a person on the deathbed or in the process of dying often suffers from this type of breathing. The Cheyne-Stokes breathing sound in such cases will appear as a louder gurgling sound. It is often referred to as a death rattle. That is why the Cheyne-Stokes breathing is related to death.

How to Differentiate Cheyne-Stokes Breathing From Other Abnormal Breathing Patterns?

People often confuse Cheyne-Stokes breathing with other abnormal breathing patterns. However, you must understand that not every abnormal breathing pattern is Cheyne-Stokes breathing.

One of the common abnormal breathing patterns that resembles Cheyne-Stokes breathing is agonal breathing.

To understand the difference between agonal breathing and Cheyne-Stokes breathing, you must know that the former is sudden and onset. Agonal breathing is seen in the sudden onset and occurs in cases of cardiac arrest. Also, it is not a cyclic pattern, and there is a pause between gasps.

Another breathing pattern that is closely related to Cheyne-Stokes breathing is obstructive sleep apnea. However, obstructive sleep apnea is closely related to any obstruction in the airway. Also, if you have obesity, you have a higher chance of having such breathing patterns.

How Is Cheyne-Stokes Breathing Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of Cheyne-Stokes is difficult. Your doctor must correlate it with your medical condition. Also, the doctor can ask you to do a sleep study or polysomnography to identify it. Also, the doctor can perform other tests like blood oxygen level analysis, heart rate analysis, respiration rate, and electroencephalogram (EEG).

What Are the Treatment Options for Cheyne-Stokes Breathing?

For the proper treatment, the doctor must know that Cheyne-Stokes breathing is seen in which condition.

1. The main goal of the treatment is to maintain the level of gas in your blood. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can effectively manage your blood gas levels. However, in severe cases, if it fails, bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP) can be useful.

2. In cases, if you are having some heart issues, a doctor can suggest medicines like angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and diuretics.

3. In severe cases, you might require surgery like a cardiac transplant, cardiac bypass surgery, or valve repair surgery.

Conclusion

Cheyne-Stokes breathing is an abnormal breathing pattern. It actually signifies that you are having some serious issues. Such issues are mostly related to heart failure or a brain stroke. However, in severe cases, the outcome of this can be terrible and even linked to your death. That is why, if you are having any such issues, you must consult a doctor.

Key Takeaway From iCliniq

If you have an abnormal breathing pattern, like Cheyne-Stokes breathing, you should immediately consult a doctor. Ignoring this can be fatal, as it is linked to some dangerous health issues. Also, in case of any query related to this, remember that doctors at iCliniq are always there to help you.