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Don’t ignore
obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially life-
threatening condition that requires immediate
medical attention. Undiagnosed OSA in children can
be associated with learning problems; developmental
problems; behavior problems; heart problems and high
blood pressure; and, in some cases, failure to grow. In
addition, OSA causes daytime sleepiness that can result
in personality changes, lost productivity in school and
interpersonal relationship problems. A child with sleep
apnea may lag behind inmany areas of development
and become frustrated and depressed.
Fromdiagnosis to treatment
A sleep test called polysomnography is usually done to
diagnose sleep apnea. There are two types: an overnight
polysomnography test in a sleep center and a home-
monitoring polysomnography test. They are painless
tests and are usually covered by insurance.
Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, removing enlarged
tonsils and adenoids often results in signi cant
improvement inmost children.
When this doesn’t help, apnea is usually treated with
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level
positive airway pressure. A CPAP device is a machine
that blows air into the nose via a nose mask, keeping
the airway open and unobstructed.
Bi-level
refers to an
inspiratory pressure that is higher than the expiratory
pressure. The sleep doctor will prescribe the pressure,
and a home health care company will set up the device
and provide training in its use andmaintenance.
Having your child on CPAP can be intimidating,
but the bene ts of this therapy are worth the
inconvenience. A CPAP device is
not
a ventilator; it
merely keeps the airway open so your child can breathe
easily. It is not a complicatedmachine, but it does take a
period of adjustment and requires some care.
Symptoms of
sleep apnea
may include:
w
Snoring
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Irregular or
heavy breathing
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Sweating
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Severe bedwetting
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Sleeping restlessly
or in strange
positions
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Snorting, choking
or gasping (may
wake up)
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Nightmares
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Dry mouth from
sleeping with
mouth open
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Chest retraction
(in young children)
If you suspect that your child may
have a sleep disorder, please contact
the ValleyCare Sleep Center at
925 454 4280
.
there and unable to relax and
sleep. Likewise, you may feel
anxious about your child and
check in every time your child
makes a peep, even if he or
she doesn’t need you.
Resistance to sleep.
Children
throw tantrums, stall and just
refuse to go to sleep.
Parasomnias.
This includes
disruptive sleep-related
problems, such as teeth-
grinding and night terrors,
which usually are not serious.
Delayed sleep phase
syndrome (DSPS).
Your child
goes to sleep late andwakes
up late with the pattern getting
worse over time.
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