Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a particular type of periodic breathing that is characterized by a crescendo-decrescendo pattern of breathing in between central apneas or central hypopneas (waxing and waning amplitude of flow or tidal volume).
Cheyne-Stokes respirations are a rare irregular breathing pattern1 that typically takes place during sleep but can happen when you're awake.
The breathing pattern consists of bursts of rapid, shallow breathing followed by slower, heavier breathing and apneic intervals, when there is no breathing at all.
Some persons experience hypopneas, which are moments of incredibly shallow breathing, in place of an apnea2.
The pattern resumes following an apnea or hypopnea in a cycle that normally lasts 45 to 90 seconds.
