Sleep Assessment
If you’re a smoker, it’s important to be aware of the impact that your habit could be having on the people around you, especially your children. Secondhand smoke can potentially lead to a variety of health issues, and in some cases, this can even include an increased risk for sleep apnea. Below is a closer look at the connection between sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing in children.
What Exactly is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that can cause your child’s breathing to temporarily stop multiple times while they’re asleep. It usually happens due to the airway being obstructed in some manner. Untreated sleep apnea can easily disrupt your child’s slumber, thus preventing them from getting the rest that their still-growing body needs. On top of that, your little one could eventually suffer serious health problems later in life, such as a higher chance of suffering from cardiovascular problems.
What is the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Secondhand Smoke?
Generally speaking, only about 4% of children have sleep apnea. Thus, under normal circumstances, the odds of your child developing the disorder would be quite low. However, a study in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology found evidence suggesting that secondhand smoke exposure can significantly increase the odds of sleep apnea occurring between the ages of 3 and 18.
Further study is needed to confirm whether secondhand smoke can directly cause sleep apnea. Bear in mind that the disorder has a wide variety of risk factors, such as obesity and overly large tonsils.
What Should You Do If You Think Your Child Has Sleep Apnea?
If your child is snoring or experiencing pauses in their breathing while they sleep, they could have sleep apnea. Your first step should be to make arrangements to have a sleep study performed, which involves monitoring your child’s vital signs while they sleep. The results of the sleep study will help confirm whether sleep apnea is truly present.
After your child has been diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing, you can take whatever steps are needed to treat the problem. This could involve having a customized oral appliance made. Additionally, it can be worth taking steps to address the risk factors that might be contributing to your child’s sleep problems, which can potentially include giving up smoking.
As a parent, it’s up to you to take whatever steps you can to protect your little one from sleep apnea so that they can get the full night’s rest that they deserve.
About the Author
Dr. Michael E. Michel earned his dental degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He has spent decades pursuing advanced training and continuing education specifically in the field of dental sleep medicine. When it comes to treating sleep apnea, he’s happy to help his patients find relief with the help of personalized oral appliances. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Michel at Sleep Solutions by Michel Dental in Topeka, visit his website or call (785) 273-0801.