Cheyne Stokes Breathing

Cheyne stokes breathing is an abnormal pattern of breathing which is not normal. In it there occurs oscillation between apnoea and hypopnoea. That is, there occurs progressive deep and fast breathing that is hyperventilation followed by temporary stoppage of breathing called apnoea. This cycle of hypopnoea followed by apnoea repeats itself which usually consists of time period of 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Causes-

The cheyne stokes breathing may be caused by different reasons which are as follows-



1. Heart failure.

2. Stroke.

3. Chronic heart failure.

4. Newborns with immature respiratory system.

5. High altitude.

6. Respiratory center damage.

7. Brain injuries.

8. Brain tumors.

9. Toxic metabolic encephalopathy.

10. Carbon monoxide poisoning.

11. Syncope.

Symptoms-

1. Progressively deeper and faster breathing followed by gradual decrease in breathing to temporary stoppage of breathing. This cycle of hyperventilation is followed by apnoea repeats itself after a time period which varies from thirty seconds to two minutes.

2. Changing serum partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

3. Increased carbon dioxide in apnoea which causes hyperventilation leading to decreased carbon dioxide which further causes increased carbon dioxide and hence repeats the cycle.

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