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Sleep apnea and nighttime urination explained
The Detroit News • • health
Key Points:
- Central sleep apnea (CSA) differs from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as CSA originates from brain-related breathing control issues rather than airway obstruction, often linked to conditions like heart failure or stroke.
- Positive airway pressure devices are primary treatments for both OSA and CSA, with BiPAP machines used when CPAP devices are ineffective, as BiPAP adjusts pressure during inhalation and exhalation.
- Frequent nighttime urination is uncommon in CSA itself but may be related to heart failure, where increased nighttime kidney blood flow leads to excess fluid removal and urination.
- Medications like finasteride and tamsulosin, used for enlarged prostate symptoms, generally improve urination frequency by aiding bladder emptying and reducing obstruction.
- Urinating twice per night is typical for a 74-year-old man with a treated enlarged prostate and does not necessarily indicate heart failure or sleep apnea issues.
