prone position and is considered a strong risk factor for heart disease in adulthood.
The findings highlight the seriousness of sleep apnea in children and the importance of early treatment, according to the researchers.
Most research on sleep apnea in youngsters focuses on effects such as sleepiness, hyperactivity and thinking, Marishka Brown the director of the NHLBI’s National Center on Sleep Disorders Research notes.
“There is limited data on either the short- or long-term impact on cardiovascular risk in this population,” she says. “The new findings address this knowledge gap and raise awareness of sleep-disordered breathing in children as a public health problem.”
Obstructive sleep apnea causes people to briefly and repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. It occurs mostly in adults, but an estimated 10 percent of school-aged children may also have it. Almost half of children with sleep apnea outgrow it by the time they reach their teens, but it remains a chronic problem in the other half, the researchers add.
Sleep apnea in children: How can you help your child?
In order to help your child it’s important that you know the symptoms and risk factors:
Symptoms:
- Snoring
- Pauses in breathing
- Restless sleep
- Snorting, coughing or choking
- Mouth breathing
- Nighttime sweating
- Bed-wetting
- Sleep terrors
Keep in mind that children with pediatric OSA don’t always snore. Sometimes children may just have disturbed sleep and show the following symptoms:
- Poor performance in school
- Difficulty paying attention
- Problems learning
- Behavioral problems
- Poor weight gain
- Hyperactive
Risk Factors:
Obesity is just one of many risk factors that can give your child a higher risk of developing OSA:
- Down syndrome
- Abnormalities in the skull or face
- Cerebral palsy
- Sickle cell disease
- Neuromuscular disease
- History of low birth weight
- Family history of obstructive sleep apnea
When to see a doctor
As with any condition, it is important to get your child screened and monitored early to prevent any future complications such as heart disease and high blood pressure. You should monitor your child’s sleeping habits if they exhibit any of the symptoms or risk factors. If your child consistently wakes up in the morning feeling tired and has behavioral problems, you should consult with your child’s doctor.