Cheyne-Stokes breath got this name in honor of two doctors. What is their merit? They first told the world about this kind of abnormal breathing, which is also called Chain-Stokes syndrome. Previously nothing was known about him.
How does this syndrome occur?
Breathing is characterized by the frequency of breaths between which stops occur. At the first stage, a short break occurs, then the dyspnea phase begins. It lasts from a couple of seconds to a minute, and initially there is a very quiet surface breathing, which quickly becomes more deep and noisy and reaches a critical point on the fifth or seventh breath. Then it decreases approximately the same. It ends with another short stop in breathing. And so in a circle. Chain-Stokes breathing is very dangerous.
Periodic respiration in animals
This syndrome is found in both humans and animals, and the latter are somewhat more common. Therefore, it is necessary to give them due attention. In diseased animals, a slow increase in the amplitude of inspirations (to significant hyperpnea) occurs with a further decrease in pause (apnea). Then again begin to increase respiratory movements. And they end again with apnea, the duration of which is in the range from 30 to 45 seconds. After that, everything repeats.
Causes of the syndrome, alternating breathing
This type of periodic breathing is usually observed in animals with such ailments as the release of blood into the medulla oblongata, petechial fever, all kinds of poisonings, uremia. These pathologies also cause it. Cheyne-Stokes breathing, the causes of which you now know, is a serious violation requiring medical attention. During a stop, patients are difficult to navigate in space or completely lose consciousness. However, when breathing resumes, they feel better. There is also evidence of another type of pathological breathing. It is characterized solely by insertion deep breaths called peaks. Cheyne-Stokes syndrome, during which insertive breaths are observed between a pair of typical phases of dyspnea, is called alternating breathing. It is rare. Cheyne-Stokes breathing more often. And this is an undeniable fact. Sometimes abnormal alternating breathing occurs, when every second wave is more and more superficial. This is very similar to another disease, namely, an alternating change in the activity of the heart. There is information about the mutual transitions of recurring shortness of breath, which is paroxysmal in nature, and Cheyne-Stokes syndrome. However, apparently, this is a rarity.
Pathogenesis
It is believed that Cheyne-Stokes breathing almost always signals brain hypoxia and other ailments of the gray matter, as well as its membranes. In addition, it can appear with heart failure and uremia. The mechanism of the occurrence of Cheyne-Stokes syndrome is still poorly understood. Some scholars explain it as follows. With hypoxia, the subcortical formations and cells of the cerebral cortex are inhibited, therefore, there is a pause in breathing, loss of consciousness, and the functioning of the vasomotor center is disrupted. But chemoreceptors, even in such a situation, can still respond to ongoing changes in the concentration of gases in the blood. Cheyne-Stokes breathing causes many disorders in the patient's body. And this is very scary. Why is the respiratory center activated again? It simply contributes to a sharp increase in the sending of impulses from chemoreceptors, a direct effect on the centers of a significant content of carbon dioxide, as well as stimuli from baroreceptors. All this is due to a decrease in pressure. Thus, breathing is restored. Its renewal entails blood oxygenation, which reduces brain hypoxia, and also improves the activity of neurons in the vasomotor center.
At this stage, you can observe deeper breathing, clarity of consciousness, normal pressure, good filling of the heart. Ventilation increases, resulting in an increase in oxygen tension in arterial blood. What happens to carbon dioxide? Her tension, on the contrary, decreases. These processes entail a decrease in chemical as well as reflex stimulation of the respiratory center, the functioning of which begins to slow down - apnea occurs.
Cheyne-Stokes breath: treatment
If this syndrome occurs, “Aminophylline” must be inserted into the vein. In the event that large dosages of this medicine do not contribute to the expansion of blood vessels in the brain and normalization of the patient’s well-being, it is necessary to inject Metrazol, which will affect the respiratory center. He really can help. While the patient is ill, you must be with him. And it must be remembered that only a doctor can bring an unfortunate person out of this condition. This is not the case when you can cope with an ailment on your own.