High-altitude periodic breathing is a form of central sleep apnea driven primarily by:

High-altitude periodic breathing is a form

Multiple choice — select the best answer

AHypercapnic ventilatory response blunting
BUpper airway instability
CHypocapnia due to hypoxia-driven hyperventilation
DIncreased REM sleep percentage

✓ Correct answer: C. Hypocapnia due to hypoxia-driven hyperventilation At altitude, hypoxia triggers hyperventilation, lowering PaCO2 below the apneic threshold and causing central apneas. The respiratory control loop becomes unstable because CO2 is the main chemoreflex driver.

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High-altitude periodic breathing is a form of central sleep apnea driven primarily by:

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