Snoring Could Signal Serious Problem
If your kids snore their way through the night, it could be more than just noise.
One in ten suffer from a sleep disorder we used to just associate with adults.
“I know how I can help it,” said sixth-grader Karina Price.
But, it wasn’t always like that. Her teachers once thought she couldn’t concentrate.
“In school it led to teachers wondering if she had ADHD, focusing problems, learning disabilities,” said her mother Peggy Price.
But, Karina’s problem wasn’t concentration. It was sleep – or lack of it.
She’s one of about 18 million Americans with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also known as OSA. It’s a condition that causes complete or partial obstruction of the airways.
“Oxygen is low during sleep,” said Dr. Maninder Karla of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “You have higher carbon dioxide, you have disrupted sleep, as well as daytime symptoms of excessive sleepiness and/or behavioral problems.”
Karina said her apnea made her feel as though she was not as smart as other people. And, more than just her grades were at risk. OSA can be very dangerous for kids and should be checked by a doctor.
“It can lead to long-term affects on their blood pressure, of their heart, the size of their heart as well as the functioning of their heart,” Karla said.
But, it can be hard to spot OSA.
“I did not know anything about sleep apnea,” Peggy said.
So, the American Sleep Apnea Association created a snore score test to help parents spot the signs.
- Does your child snore loudly?
- Are they tired when they wake up?
- Are they overweight or asthmatic?
- Do they choke, gasp or hold their breath while sleeping?
Karina now uses oxygen at night and her school allows her to sleep in.
“My school life is better in that I don’t feel as dumb as I used to ‘cause I know what I have and I know how I can help it.”
There are a lot of ways to treat sleep apnea. It’s best to start the discussion with your child’s doctor.
(info from http://wcco.com/health/local_story_163172103.html)