It is normal for anyone to experience brief pauses between the breathing patterns that their bodies follow during sleep. However, in some cases, the pauses are prolonged causing drastic alteration to the regular breathing pattern. In the long run, the irregularity will lead to a decline in oxygen intake and disrupt a person’s sleep. The worst thing that can happen to a person in such a situation is to die due to heart failure.
This condition is called Apnea, a Greek work which literally means “lack of wind”. There are three types of Apnea, these are:
- Obstructive sleep Apnea
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Mixed Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This type of apnea is commonly seen in children. In general, children experience obstructive sleep apnea because of enlarged adenoids or tonsils. Kids are very susceptible to having irritated tissues along the throat lining. The irritation usually leads to the obstruction of the air passageway. Approximately 1-3% of all kids with the preschool age bracket have OSA.
Symptoms of OSA
The four most common symptoms of OSA are:
- Snoring – since snoring is the result of having vibrating mouth and throat parts due to enlargement. Click here to read more about snoring.
- Difficulty in breathing – although the child may still be breathing normally, he/she might have to exert effort so as to inhale enough oxygen. This is also called laboured breathing.
- Restless Sleeps – a child might experience restlessness during sleep, exhibiting unusual sleeping positions.
- Lethargy – due to the sleeping difficulties, the child will feel sleepy even during daytime. This might even extend to having behavioural problems.
OSA is most observable in the sleeping patterns of children. Because of its ability to disrupt a person’s sleep, he/she will most likely develop a unique and weird sleeping pattern (i.e. waking up in the middle of the night, falling asleep in the afternoon, etc.). In terms of the child’s overall wellbeing, OSA’s effects can extend to a child’s poor performance in school. Studies show that kids having difficulty at school also exhibit symptoms of OSA.
Because of the dangerous effects of OSA to children, parents should be wary about its symptoms and have their children checked once any of the symptoms start to appear. Treatment for OSA includes adenotonsillectomy or the surgical “removal” of the enflamed adenoids or tonsils. Another popular treatment is called CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. A child under the CPAP treatment is made to wear a nose mask during sleep.
Central Apnea
This type of apnea usually occurs when a person’s breathing pattern is altered due to a medical condition in the brain. In most cases, this happens when the portion of the brain that controls a person’s breathing is affected by a disease or a biological anomaly. Central apnea is common in premature infants because these babies often have immature brains which might eventually develop problems that lead to central apnea.
Mixed Apnea
This type of apnea is a mixture of both Obstructive and central apnea. This is not only exhibited by children, in fact, many cases of mixed apnea have been recorder to involve young adults. This type of apnea may occur during sleep or even while the person is awake.
What if Your Child has Apnea?
If your child exhibit any of the symptoms of apnea, it is best if you immediately consult a doctor or at least dial 911 when the problem is currently happening. However, be secured that apnea is completely treatable and when the diagnosis and evaluation of your child’s condition is made early, all the harms associated to it will no longer be existent. In some cases, apnea just goes away on their own, even without treatment or medication.
No related posts.
