Child Sleep Apnea-Part 2

Written by Fred McConnell

In part one you learned that sleep apnea can affect children as well as adults. However, since children have a more difficult time waking themselves up, it can be more dangerous. In infants, it can truly be deadly, since they already breathe faster than grownups, and sleep apnea is breathing cessation most of the time. It is more often a failure to intake a breath, rather than some sort of obstruction. So, whether it concerns you baby or an older child, it will be up to you to recognize the signs of sleep apnea.

Like adults, children with sleep apnea also are often sluggish during the day; they snore at night, sweat, have frequent nightmares, and tend to sleep with their mouth open. Unfortunately, some of the symptoms of sleep apnea may come across as a misbehaving child. You may be disciplining your son/daughter for something that cannot be easily controlled.

Headaches

Everyone has a headache at one time or another, but it is not natural for your child to frequently wake up in the morning feeling miserable. If a morning headache is a common complaint, it is time to go see the pediatrician. The doctor can rule out other potential problems and find out if your child is not reaching that restful stage of sleep necessary for a youngster to thrive.

Time Out

Have you ever heard the saying, “There are no naughty children, just tired ones”? Although the thought is debatable, there is something to the idea that your child may be cranky and out-of-sorts because he/she is not getting enough sleep at night. If your child suffers from sleep apnea, even 12 hours a night will not seem like enough sleep to be refreshed the next day. If crabbiness and mood swings have you baffled, you may want to monitor your child during sleep, and see if sleep apnea is the cause.

Wetting the Bed

When a child does not get up to go to the restroom in the middle of the night, it does not necessarily mean they have some sort of emotional problem. It could be sleep apnea. So, check out physical reason for this manifestation, before resorting to emotional or behavioral therapy.

Overweight

Obesity is probably the single-most contributor to sleep apnea in adults. Fat is an obstruction to proper breathing and the sufficient intake of air. Unfortunately, the same can be said of children. Today, there are more obese kids than ever before in history. Maybe it is because the kids spend too much time in front of the television than outside; maybe it is the availability of fast and processed food. Whatever the cause, the result is the inability to breathe deeply and intake adequate oxygen during sleep. Of course, the weight did not appear overnight; and, it can be difficult to keep a youngster on a strict diet. In the meantime, you will have to consult a doctor regarding sleep apnea control.

Learning and Development

Is your child behind the learning and development curve? Is school more difficult for him/her than the average child? Is emotional, physical and mental development less than other children of comparable age? While it may be just the way it is, it might be a lack of healthy sleep and a failure to thrive. After all, sleep apnea is also known to create health problems. So, it is a good idea to rule out a sleep disorder as part of the problem.

Upper Respiratory

Does your child frequently go to the doctor because of respiratory illness? Have infections become a part of life? While you are ruling out the potential causes of this health concern, you might want to check with the pediatrician. Sleep apnea may be a contributing factor.

Heart Problems

In truth, it is not normal that a child should have high blood pressure. Sleep apnea can cause heart problems for children, as well as adults. Children can have strokes and heart attacks too, even if they are not as common. If sleep apnea is a problem, your child’s overall health and development is at risk.

In conclusion, if you suspect your child has sleep apnea, consult your doctor right away; if your child has one or more of the symptoms discussed, you should rule out sleep apnea as a potential culprit. Oftentimes, surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids will resolve the sleep disorder. If weight is a problem, it is never too young to develop healthy eating habits for a lifetime-for the entire family. Of course, the doctor will probably want to conduct a sleep test to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea. If the child is too small and scared to be alone at the sleep center, arrangements may be made to allow a parent to stay in the room or conduct the test at home. But, it is important to treat sleep apnea so your child can grow up healthy, happy, and well rested.