A study in the June 1 issue of the journal SLEEP found that waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) are consistent, independent risk factors for all severity levels of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children, suggesting that as with adult SDB, metabolic factors are important risk factors for childhood SDB.

Results indicate that BMI and waist circumference, but not neck circumference, were significant and strong predictors of SDB at all severity levels - primary snoring, mild SDB and moderate SDB. Nasal anatomic factors such as chronic sinusitis, rhinitis and nasal drain were significant predictors of mild SDB; minority status was associated with primary snoring and mild SDB. Tonsil size, assessed by visual inspection, was not a significant risk factor for any level of SDB. Overall, 1.2 percent of children had moderate SDB (an apnea/hypopnea index of five or more breathing pauses per hour of sleep), 25 percent had mild SDB (AHI of at least one but less than five) and 15.5 percent had primary snoring.

According to principal investigator Edward O. Bixler, PhD, of Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Penn., it is often assumed that the primary mechanism of SDB in children is the presence of large tonsils or adenoids. The study suggests, however, that the causes of SDB in children are more complex, that there may be a systemic influence of obesity, and that adenotonsillectomy may not always be the most effective, first-line treatment.

“Risk factors for SDB in children are complex and include metabolic, inflammatory and anatomic factors,” said Bixler. “Because SDB in children is not just the outcome of anatomical abnormalities, treatment strategies should consider alternative options, such as weight loss and correction of nasal problems.”

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that snoring is one warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea, a common form of SDB that occurs when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway during sleep. Snoring that is related to sleep apnea tends to be loud and may include obvious pauses in breathing and gasps for breath. Parents often notice that the child seems to be working hard to breathe during sleep.

The study gathered data from 700 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years who were randomly selected from 18 public elementary schools in Dauphin County, Penn. Fifty-two percent were female, and 23.8 percent of the children were either Black or Hispanic.

Each child was evaluated by a physical exam and monitored for nine hours during one night of polysomnography in a sleep laboratory.

The overall average AHI was 0.8 breathing pauses per hour of sleep, with a maximum value of 24.6. The prevalence of moderate SDB was higher in older children; two percent of children between the ages of 9 and 12 years had moderate SDB, compared with only 0.2 percent of children between 5 and 8 years of age.

The study: “Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children in a General Population Sample: prevalence and Risk Factors”

Source:
Kelly Wagner

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Millions and millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a stoppage of breathing while sleeping that is characterized by loud gasps, physical struggles, and morning headaches as well as tremendous feelings of fatigue and sleepiness during the day.

Though there are many different cures for sleep apnea, most people can find a huge amount of relief through the use of sleep apnea masks.  They are called C-PAP masks that stand for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure mask.  Do not misunderstand; it is not the mask itself that cures sleep apnea.  It is important to note that the mask is linked by a lightweight air hose to a machine which makes continuous air that the sleeper is so direly in need of.

How this works is that the machine blows gentle air into the nose or mouth of the person wearing the mask.  There is just enough air coming through that it keeps the patient’s throat from falling into a downward position that had previously hampered the facility of the patient to breathe.

People look at the masks and immediately assume that there is no way they will ever be able to sleep wearing such a thing.  Quite the opposite is true, as most people have said that they’ve never slept so well as they have since acquiring a C-PAP machine.

Sleep apnea masks come in a variety of types, headgear, sizes and designs.  Some are purely oral-air-delivery masks, some nasal-air-delivery masks and some a combination of both oral and nasal-air-delivery systems.

The goal of each mask is to obtain perfect fit, sure delivery of air, all while keeping the person comfortable enough to sleep.  Soft silicone gels and seals provide comfort. There are even masks that do not even require headgear. Or you may be introduced to nasal pillows that allow the air to come through solely your nose while using a mask.  

The machines themselves sometimes come integrated with heated humidifiers, are easy to transport for travel, and have settings chosen by your doctor that are individualized to especially serve your needs.

New technology has been applied to the standard C-PAP machine. There is now have a BiPAP machine.  BiPAP is the abbreviation for Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure. It actually allows the constant air to be interrupted when the patient breathes out, and that is why it is referred to as Bi-level.  This means that you now no longer need to exhale against the constant air pressure.  

Those who suffer from other breathing problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary  disease, COPD, find that the Bi-PAP is more than helpful to them. Also, patients who suffer from neuromuscular diseases find it is much easier to use a Bi-PAP than a C-PAP. Those decisions for Bi-PAPs as opposed to C-PAPs are, of course, also made by your doctor or sleep therapist for you.  

If you suffer from congenital heart disease, you may find that having sleep apnea was the cause of it, or partially the cause.  You will perhaps discover that either a C-PAP or sleep apnea masks are just the answer you have sought for many years of restless sleep, night sweats, heart palpitations and feeling as if you do not receive the restful sleep you seek.

Snoring is something that we all wound like to fix because it can be difficult for the other spouse to sleep when we snore. There also can be some health risk associated with snoring so finding some remedies can be helpful for your family and you.

First you need to know that when you sleep on you back you will have a much higher chance of snoring. One simple remedy is to sleep on your side and see if that helps. It helps your breathing when you are on your side. Many people find that using pillows is a great way to sleep on there side.

You can also call your doctor and see what they recommend because there are a lot of over the counter treatments that can make you quit snoring. It is hard to get a good night sleep when you snore a lot so find a remedy that works for you.

You may want to check with your local pharmacy because there are many products that are available to you that can help solve the snoring issue you have. Many of these over the counter snoring devices have proven to work well it will be up to you to find one that is comfortable for your needs.

Finally if none of these remedies helps at all then you want to visit your doctor because they can have sleep studies done and they might find that there is a bigger issue that need medical attention. This is an extreme situation and most people can make minor changes to improve there sleep habits.