Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is defined as the cessation of breathing during sleep, lasting at least 10 seconds and associated with a fall in blood oxygen or arousal from sleep. Some individuals stop breathing over one hundred times each night. Because of the decreased amounts of oxygen that the body receives during these periodic episodes, sleep apnea can be very dangerous. Sleep apnea can affect adults, children and infants.

Risk Factors

• Obesity or excess weight
• Use of tobacco products
• Large neck circumference (greater than 17 inches)
• High blood pressure
• Use of alcohol or sedatives
• Age-older than 65 or premature infants
• Large tonsils or an enlarged tongue

Symptoms

• Loud snoring
• Excessive fatigue during the day
• Decreased concentration and memory
• High blood pressure
• Heart complications
• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Night waking to urinate
• Chest pain while sleeping
• Gasping while sleeping
• Restless sleep (tossing and turning)

Children may experience additional symptoms, including bed wetting, sweating during the night, developmental delays or poor activity in school, short attention span, behavior problems and poor physical growth.

Treatment

• Lose weight
• Quit smoking and using alcohol
• Sleep on your side, preferably your left side
• Use saline spray in your nose
• Raise your head 4-6 inches to make breathing easier
• Speak to your doctor about CPAP (Continuous Airway Pressure), which is a mask that you wear during sleep that provides air to keep the airway from collapsing.
• Dental devices
• Surgery as a last resort

Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy

If you have sleep apnea, it is important to discuss this with your caregiver. Because your developing baby depends on you for oxygen, decreased levels of oxygen during an episode of sleep apnea can be dangerous for your baby.

Sleep Apnea and Infants

Any baby can be affected by sleep apnea, but the condition is more common in babies that were born prior to week 37. Sleep apnea in infants can be caused by an immature central nervous system, problems with the gastrointestinal system (reflux), infection, respiratory diseases, birth defects, heart complications and bleeding in the brain. Sleep apnea in infants can be life threatening and parents should work closely with the child’s doctor to diagnose and treat the condition. Babies with sleep apnea will stop breathing during their sleep and may turn blue. If your baby does not respond to physical stimulation, call 911 immediately.