Apnea is a medical term that refers to a pause in breathing. When your child develops sleep apnea, it means that his/her breathing pauses while sleeping. As most of us are probably aware, a pause in our breathing can be dangerous. We let oxygen flow in our body through breathing, it also expels carbon dioxide which is harmful to us. When our oxygen supply becomes scarce, our organs including the brain and the heart will stop working well. Although it rarely causes cardiac arrest, the abnormal flow of oxygen due to sleep apnea may affect the patient’s activities.
As parents, we wouldn’t want our children to develop this sleeping disorder. However, sleep apnea is a common occurrence in young children. It is likely that your child will develop the condition throughout his/her childhood. The best thing to do is to address the problem at its earliest stage and find the most suitable treatment. You might be wondering what signs or symptoms should you be looking for. Here’s the list of things you should look for:
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea During Nightime
There are two types of symptoms noticeable for kids with sleep apnea. You can start checking the way your child sleeps to note if he/she displays the following signs:
- Light sleeping or frequently waking up in the middle of sleep
- Breathing only through the mouth
- Snorting or noticeable pauses in breathing while asleep
- Snoring
- Coughing or choking while asleep
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea During Daytime
While the symptoms above can be dismissed as normal sleeping habits for children, long-term sleep apnea may be more evident when the patient is awake. Here are some of the things to look for during the day:
- Fatigue
- Easily falling asleep in class or when doing activities
- Having problems paying attention
- Being easily distracted, irritated or cranky
- Morning headaches
Should you realize that your child is having sleep apnea, it is best to consult an ENT doctor for a proper diagnosis. Avoid attempting home remedies since the symptoms of sleep apnea are also often associated with other ailments an Ears, Nose and Throat specialist can address.
Schedule a visit with an ENT doctor in Mount Elizabeth today!
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