Sleep Issues With Children

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children isn’t as rare as you think considering that adults are sometimes unaware of the issue.

As astonishing as it may seem, some people have no idea that they are afflicted with a sleeping disorder known as Sleep Apnea. In fact, some men and women who wake up abruptly throughout the night may also be suffering from other complications that are a direct result of Sleep Apnea.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Sleep Apnea is a disorder that can affect anyone. Even children.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children Risk Factors

If you have been following Dr. Ringer’s blog, you will have learned that Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also known as OSA, is a breathing disorder that affects over 19 million women and men along with two to three percent of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children.

The National Sleep Foundation explains that OSA can run in families, but also affects children who have enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils. Kids with enlarged lymph nodes behind the nose in the throat have a much higher risk when it comes to Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Obesity, especially in children, is epidemic across the United States and puts kids at risk when it comes to OSA. If your son or daughter has a smaller mid face or jaw, or an unusually large tongue, he or she may also suffer from Sleep Apnea. If you smoke, you are putting your children at risk as second hand smoke could cause Obstructive Sleep Apnea in children. Kids with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or other neuromuscular disorders may also suffer from Sleep Apnea.

Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition that causes temporary breathing pauses for 10 seconds or more while sleeping. This condition can occur up to 100 times every sixty minutes and causes the blood oxygen levels to drop dramatically causing the body to choke.

Young children may outgrow Obstructive Sleep Apnea because of stiffening airways and larger throats, however, kids with larger adenoids and tonsils may need to have them removed. This will typically cure about 80 to 90 percent of Sleep Apnea in children.

Children’s Sleep Apnea Symptoms

• Loud snoring
• Choking and snorting while sleeping
• Excessive sweating from trying to breathe at night
• Headaches when waking up
• Daytime sleepiness
• Hyperactivity
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

If you believe that your son or daughter may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, schedule an appointment with your doctor who can determine if your children are afflicted with OSA. If the prognosis isn’t good, Dr. Ringer can help with Oral Appliance Therapy. Call or click and schedule an appointment with Dr. Ringer today.