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Cheyne–Stokes respiration
System: Chest & Breathing Signs · All chest & breathing signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Breathing that cycles between gradually deeper breaths and gradually shallower ones, with pauses of no breathing (apnoea) in between.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with heart failure, stroke and other severe illness affecting the breathing control centres.
◈ Behind the name
John Cheyne (1777–1836), Scottish physician, and William Stokes (1804–1878), Irish physician.
Related signs — Chest & Breathing Signs
Browse the C section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.