What a frightening experience for both you and your husband. Five comatose-like episodes in a year is serious, and it makes complete sense that you're looking for answers.
Parkinson's disease can affect the muscles and nerves that control breathing, which may contribute to dangerous respiratory events. Here's what's known Show Full Answer
What a frightening experience for both you and your husband. Five comatose-like episodes in a year is serious, and it makes complete sense that you're looking for answers.
Parkinson's disease can affect the muscles and nerves that control breathing, which may contribute to dangerous respiratory events. Here's what's known about how Parkinson's can impact breathing and sleep:
- Sleep apnea is a recognized complication of Parkinson's, where the brain may not properly signal the body to breathe due to Parkinson's-related brain changes
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause oxygen levels to drop and CO2 levels to rise dangerously during sleep
- Respiratory muscle dysfunction from Parkinson's can make breathing less effective overall
- Brain lesions from Parkinson's can interfere with the automatic signals that regulate breathing So yes, Parkinson's disease can be a contributing factor to the breathing and CO2 issues your husband is experiencing — though the exact connection between these comatose episodes and his specific diagnosis should be urgently discussed with his neurologist and a pulmonologist together.
It's really important that his care team evaluates whether his current sleep apnea treatment (such as a CPAP machine) is adequate, and whether his Parkinson's medications need adjusting. Staying consistent with Parkinson's treatment has been shown to help reduce respiratory complications.
Please don't wait on this — these episodes are serious and his doctors need the full picture.
September 22
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