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Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Down Syndrome
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
When your child with Down Syndrome sleeps is his head bent back in an odd position? Is he waking frequently during the night, or is he a restless sleeper? Do you notice a lot of mouth breathing during the day, and at night? Read this for important information concerning Down Syndrome and Sleep Apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs in over 50% of people with Down Syndrome. It has been recommended by U.S. researchers that all children with Down Syndrome be tested by the time they are three or four years of age.
In children with heart problems, a common condition in Down Syndrome, the decreased oxygen levels in the blood caused by OSA can cause some serious complications. Therefore it is important to get it checked out if you notice any of the signs of OSA.
In children with Down Syndrome OSA can be caused by a number of factors:
-low tone
-flat facial profile and typical facial structure -often seen in people with Down Syndrome
-enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids
-allergies and stuffy noses
-the small mouth and seemingly large tongue
The symptoms of OSA vary but here are listed some of the common ones:
-Snoring or noisy breathing ( okay, that’s the obvious one)
-strange sleeping positions (for example with the -neck hyper-extended)
-restless sleep, frequent waking at night
-mouth breathing
-behavioral problems
-weight loss or not gaining weight at the expected rate
How is Obstructive Sleep Apnea diagnosed?
Your ear, nose and throat doctor will likely recommend a test called a polysomnography.
A polysomnography is usually done on an overnight basis. Your child will be carefully monitored while he or she sleeps.
Treatments for OSA
Treatments for OSA include:
-removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids
-getting allergies under control
-the use of CPAP
In his article about OSA in children with Down Syndrome Dr. Len Leshin,MD,FAAP recommends that the removal of tonsils and adenoids should not be day surgery. A child with Down Syndrome will usually have a longer recovery period and he or she will also have longer periods of decreased oxygenation so this child should be watched for a bit longer than a child who does not have Down Syndrome.
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About the Author:
Caroline Brose is an RN and mother of eight children, the youngest of whom has Down Syndrome. Her experience with Down Syndrome is mostly personal. She writes articles about Down Syndrome as a result of the research she has done since her son was born. She currently maintains a website all about down syndrome and is adding new information weekly. go to about-down-syndrome.com to visit the site.
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Tags: []Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy
By: Darren Mallory
It is a common thing for people to snore while they sleep. There are many people that do this and do not even realize it. Loud snoring is a sign that may lead to sleep apnea. When a person is suffering from this problem, they will stop breathing countless times a night while they are sleeping. They will however, start breathing again with a loud choking or gasping noise.
Having sleep apnea will put a lot of stress on the body. This is especially true for the heart. It will decrease the amount of oxygen found in the blood stream as well as the brain. Anyone can be a patient of sleep apnea. There are many reasons and checking with a doctor can be the only way to figure out what the cause is.
Studies are showing that sleep apnea is very common in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the lack of oxygen can become a very big problem for both the mother and the unborn baby. Many studies are researching this myth and finding the connection between sleep apnea and small birth weight. Being pregnant is stressful enough for some, and they do not need any added problems to deal with.
These studies are determining that women that are pregnant and have to deal with sleep apnea could have some complications with their pregnancy. These complications can include low birth weight and many other problems. For some women that have breathing problems normally, they may have to watch for severe asthma attacks.
It is important for a pregnant woman that is dealing with sleep apnea to get treatment as early as she can. Having this problem may end up restricting the fetus to grow, which will result in problems with the baby and could also lead to death. The sooner the problem gets fixed, the better off the woman and the baby will be. It is important to have a healthy pregnancy in order to have a healthier baby.
Getting help for sleep apnea is something that a woman can do with the help of her doctor. With the proper treatment, the woman will be able to get the sleep that she so needs and have a better time with her pregnancy. Sleep is something that everyone needs and that is especially true for pregnant woman who need their rest to take care of two people instead of just one.
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To get a good nights sleep please visit:
Author Darren Mallory
C/O www.akashop.com
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Tags: []Children Snore Too And It Can Be Serious
By: Mike Herman
While many children do snore on occasion, if they have a cold, an allergy, a respiratory infection or simply a stuffy nose etc., and while it is abnormal for children to have loud and regular snoring, especially if the are otherwise healthy, up to ten percent of children actually actually do snore every night, just as some adults do.
These children often have no visible symptoms and aren’t overweight, a common cause for adults who snore, and are otherwise healthy.
The most common health problem in children that causes snoring is enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
The tonsils are at the top of the throat (pharynx) and adenoids are high in the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth (soft palate), neither are visible to the naked eye and doctors need to use special instruments. Both are a useful part of the body as they help to defend against germs and fight infection.
Common reasons for the enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids are recurrent infections such as ear aches, colds and sore throats, etc., and can cause significant breathing problems as well as snoring.
For children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids the symptoms are mild and appear over time. The symptoms include mouth breathing and snoring during sleep, a nasal sounding voice, a sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, a persistently blocked or runny nose, or and earache.
An examination by your doctor and an examination of the back of the throat will reveal enlarged tonsils covered by a white film as well as enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
Fortunately this type of snoring is known a “Primary Snoring” and is the non serious form of snoring.
However, it is estimated that 1 -2 percent of children have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and just as sleep apnea is serious for adults, it is equally serious for children.
How can you tell if your child is primary snorer or is suffering from sleep apnea?
If your child has a normal sleep pattern, goes to bed at 8 or 9 and sleeps through till 6, 7 or 8 the next day, but does snore, then your child is a “primary” snorer.
Now if your child has a disrupted sleep pattern along with short pauses, snorts and gasps during the night, then is sleepy during the day and is having problems at school with a short attention span, troubles following direction, etc., then they have OSAS.
Their symptoms, while similar to those above, also include being overweight, frequent mouth breathing accompanied by a hypo nasal speech, frequent sore throats (because of breathing through their mouth all night), even waking up with headaches, and possibly being irritable and aggressive. Signs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also be present.
Sleep apnea in children can also be associated with cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, having troubles gaining weight and delayed growth.
If you suspect your child has sleep apnea, speak with your child’s doctor, after talking with and doing some tests they will refer you to a sleep specialist and further tests can be performed on them which include an overnight sleep study at a hospital.
Other tests are available as well, but your child’s pediatrician is the place to start.
If it is determined a child has sleep apnea, treatment options can include the removal of adenoids and tonsils, via a tonsillectomy, if enlarged tonsils and the adenoids are determined to be contributory factors. A child may have their allergies treated or help can be given to them lose weight if required. Those children who are unable to have surgery may benefit CPAP therapy via a nasal mask.
If your child is diagnosed with sleep apnea, they are likely to be treated by a specialist, a Pulmonologist or a neurologist. It is important to make enquires about their experience with dealing with these types of problems as they may not give them the importance they require.
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