“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” — Thomas Dekker
As parents, you want nothing more than healthy and vibrant children. If something is amiss and they’re not feeling up to par in their studies or interacting with peers, your child might be suffering from a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea can affect children as much as adults.
If your child snores loudly during the night on a consistent basis, you might want to have their health checked out. Loud snoring and labored breathing while sleeping can be signs of sleep apnea. There are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common form is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, despite attempts to breathe.
The Signs of Sleep Apnea and What to Look for
Symptoms in addition to snoring can include:
- Restless sleeping and sleeping in unusual positions
- Pauses in breathing, snorts during sleep and gasping for breath
- Daytime fatigue and behavioral issues
- Increase in body weight, perhaps obesity, without dietary changes,due to lack of sleep.
The obesity connection is on the rise, especially when sleep study specialists track sleeping patterns. If weight loss can be encouraged for your child, it may cure sleep apnea in some cases.
Safe Treatments for Children’s Sleep Apnea
Dr. Wes Yemoto offers sleep apnea treatment and can provide comprehensive guidance if you have any concerns about your child’s sleeping habits. Surgery is not always needed to treat sleep apnea. As a parent, you’ll need to be aware that a sleep study may be needed to properly diagnose and treat your child.
There are several conventional treatment options for sleep apnea, including oral appliances, nasal steroids, and in some cases, even surgery can help. Simply stopping sleep apnea and its symptoms can be helped with weight loss, appliances, proper nutrition habits, or other methods Dr. Yemoto will outline during a consultation.
The Big Wellness Picture
If your child has symptoms of sleep apnea, talk to your pediatrician first and find out their recommendations for the next steps. Sleep apnea can have profound consequences for a child in terms of energy level, behavior, and learning. Don’t let sleep apnea symptoms progress to the point where it affects your child’s overall wellness. Give your young ones a restful night’s sleep with a visit to our San Jose, CA dentist today.