When people start researching sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea, they are usually trying to understand why their sleep feels disrupted, why breathing changes overnight, or why they wake up exhausted even after going to bed early. These two conditions can look similar on the surface, but they have important differences that affect your health, your treatment options, and how quickly you can feel better. At uNite Sleep Institute, we built our model around fast answers and calm, personalized care. Whether you found us by searching for a sleep center near me or came through a provider referral, our goal is to help you understand what is happening in your sleep and guide you toward a solution as quickly as possible.
Patients across Nevada and Scottsdale often come to us thinking they might have sleep apnea, but many do not know that central sleep apnea is a separate condition with very different causes. Learning the basics of sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea is an important first step. At uNite Sleep Institute, our board-certified sleep physicians and expert clinical team evaluate these conditions every day using advanced diagnostics and streamlined care pathways. We help patients move from confusion to clarity in days, not months. Better nights and brighter days begin with understanding what your body is trying to tell you.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
To understand sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea, it helps to start with obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage can be caused by relaxed throat muscles, a narrow airway, excess tissue, or certain sleep positions. When obstruction happens, breathing pauses or becomes shallow, often followed by gasping or choking sensations. Many patients do not remember these episodes, but they wake up feeling tired, foggy, or unrefreshed. This is often what leads them to search for a sleep center near me and schedule a sleep evaluation.
At uNite Sleep Institute, obstructive sleep apnea is one of the conditions we diagnose most frequently. Our in-lab and home sleep studies allow us to measure breathing events, oxygen levels, sleep stages, and heart data. Every study is interpreted by board-certified sleep physicians who know how to identify the subtle patterns that separate normal snoring from clinically significant apnea. When patients begin treatment, most experience dramatic improvements in energy, mood, and overall wellbeing.
What Is Central Sleep Apnea?
Central sleep apnea is often misunderstood, which is why many patients look up sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea to make sense of their symptoms. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is not caused by a blocked airway. Instead, the brain fails to consistently send signals to the muscles that control breathing. This leads to breathing pauses that occur without snoring or gasping, making it harder for patients to realize something is wrong.
Central sleep apnea can be linked to heart conditions, neurological issues, certain medications, or unstable breathing patterns during sleep. At uNite Sleep Institute, our team is trained to evaluate even the most complex respiratory-related sleep disorders. Patients who come to us after searching for a sleep center near me often feel frustrated by vague symptoms like morning headaches, frequent nighttime awakenings, and unexplained fatigue. By conducting a thorough sleep study, our providers can determine whether central sleep apnea is present and create a treatment plan tailored to the underlying cause.
How Our Team Diagnoses Sleep Apnea vs Central Sleep Apnea
One of the reasons people trust uNite Sleep Institute is the speed and clarity of our diagnostic process. Most sleep centers take weeks or months to get patients through a simple study. We believe that is unacceptable. When someone is trying to understand sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea, they deserve answers quickly. At uNite, patients move from consultation to testing to treatment in days.
Our centers in Reno, Sparks, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale are designed to be relaxing, private, and easy to navigate. If you searched for a sleep center near me, you’ll find that our environment feels nothing like a typical healthcare facility. Each in-lab room is built to help you unwind, breathe easier, and sleep naturally. For patients who prefer staying home, we offer home sleep testing with simple, clear instructions and ongoing support.
Every sleep study completed at uNite Sleep Institute is evaluated by board-certified physicians with expertise in obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and combined forms of sleep-disordered breathing. This level of expertise is essential when interpreting subtle differences between obstructive events and central pauses. Accurate diagnosis leads to better treatment, and better treatment leads to better sleep.
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Once a patient understands sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea, they often ask which treatments work best. For obstructive sleep apnea, the most common and effective treatment is positive airway pressure therapy, often called PAP or CPAP. PAP therapy keeps the airway open by delivering steady airflow through a comfortable mask. At uNite Sleep Institute, we don’t just prescribe therapy. Our providers and respiratory therapists help patients choose the right device, adjust settings, and stay comfortable long-term.
Lifestyle adjustments can also play a role, including weight management, sleep positioning strategies, strengthening the airway muscles, and improving sleep hygiene. We guide each patient through practical steps that support better breathing and more restful nights.
Treating Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea requires a different approach, which is why it is so important for patients to fully understand sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea before beginning treatment. Depending on the cause, treatment may include specialized adaptive ventilation devices, oxygen therapy, medication adjustments, or addressing underlying medical conditions. At uNite Sleep Institute, our team evaluates each patient individually and collaborates with cardiologists, pulmonologists, and primary care providers when necessary.
Central sleep apnea can also be associated with certain heart conditions. Having specialists on our clinical team who understand the relationship between cardiovascular health and sleep makes a significant difference in how care is delivered. Patients often tell us they initially searched for a sleep center near me expecting a simple test, but what they found at uNite was a comprehensive, medically informed approach that finally made sense of their symptoms.
Why Patients Choose uNite Sleep Institute
When comparing sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea, patients want more than clinical explanations. They want a team that listens, a process that moves quickly, and a sleep center that feels calm, welcoming, and human. That is the heart of uNite Sleep Institute. We tore up the rulebook of traditional sleep care and replaced it with a model built on compassion, advanced diagnostics, and an obsession with delivering happiness.
Our providers take time to explain results, walk patients through their options, and support them past the first week or first device setup. This patient-centered approach is why individuals searching for a sleep center near me often become long-term patients who trust us with their ongoing sleep health.
Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep
If you’ve been researching sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea, or if you’ve noticed changes in your sleep, breathing, or daytime energy, now is the time to get answers. With locations in Reno, Sparks, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale, uNite Sleep Institute makes it easy to schedule a consultation and start the process.