{"id":145,"date":"2022-09-02T23:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T23:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springdentist.com\/blog\/?p=145"},"modified":"2022-10-05T23:35:56","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T23:35:56","slug":"how-sleep-apnea-can-affect-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springdentist.com\/blog\/2022\/09\/02\/how-sleep-apnea-can-affect-children\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sleep Apnea Can Affect Children"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sleep apnea<\/a> is a very widespread problem\u2014every night, millions of people miss out on countless hours of sleep due to the condition. And sadly, many more cases go completely undiagnosed! But while there are several different factors that can contribute to sleep apnea, it\u2019s important to note that the condition doesn\u2019t just affect adults; children are vulnerable too! That said, here\u2019s what you need to know about children\u2019s sleep apnea, along with what you can do to address the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sleep Apnea in Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea in children, referred to as pediatric sleep apnea, is a special category of obstructive sleep apnea. It occurs when your child\u2019s breathing is partially or completely blocked during sleep, typically caused by the throat or jaw muscles relaxing and blocking the airway. When this happens, your child must wake up to normalize their breathing. And since this can happen hundreds of times throughout the night, that lost sleep can quickly begin to add up and spell bad news for your child!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although anyone can be affected by sleep apnea, research<\/a> shows that 1% to 4% of children suffer from it, most of them falling between the ages of 2 and 8 years old. Contributing factors often include things like obesity, enlarged tonsils or a larger-than-average tongue, craniofacial anomalies, and certain medical conditions like cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Pediatric Sleep Apnea Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common symptom associated with pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is snoring, as the sound is often indicative of a breathing problem! Other things to be on the lookout for if you suspect your child suffers from sleep apnea include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n