Periodic breathing:Clusters of breaths separated by intervals ofapnea(no breathing) or near-apnea. As opposed to normal breathing which is usually regular.
Periodic breathingwas originally thought to arise from serious neurologic orcardiovascular diseaseand therefore to carry a poor outlook. It is now known that periodic breathing also tends to occur during sleep, it can occur in healthy persons, and the apnea in periodic breathing is usually central (without respiratory movements) rather than obstructive (caused by upper-airway blockage).
Periodic breathing during sleep occurs typically in patients withcongestive heart failure.
