Children,
Obesity and Sleep Disorders
Some 13 percent of children aged 6 to 11 and 14
percent of
adolescents aged 12
to 19 are overweight.
The ever-increasing
waistlines put
children at risk for
heart disease, type 2
diabetes, and high
blood pressure. But
there is another
problem, often
overlooked,
accompanying the grim
statistics from the
U.S. Surgeon
General's office.
Those extra pounds
also put children at
risk for sleep apnea,
a serious,
debilitating and
potentially
life-threatening
sleep disorder,
according to the
National Sleep
Foundation (NSF).
Sleep apnea is characterized by brief but numerous
involuntary breathing
pauses during sleep.
These breathing
pauses cause
awakenings throughout
the night, making it
impossible for sleep
apnea sufferers to
enjoy a night of
deep, restorative
sleep. People with
sleep apnea often
feel sleepy during
the day and their
concentration and
daytime performance
suffer. While being
overweight or obese
are risk factors for
sleep apnea, being
thin does not
preclude a diagnosis.
Sleep apnea, generally considered a problem among
middle-aged men, can
be a problem for
youngsters, too. With
the increasing rates
of obesity in
children, it's likely
there will also be an
increase in sleep
apnea.
The repercussions of sleep apnea and poor sleep
for children are
vast. When children
do not get the sleep
they need, they are
at risk for health,
performance and
safety problems;
difficulties in
school are often the
result. However,
sleep deprivation in
children is often
overlooked or
attributed to
attention-deficit or
behavior disorders.
It
is important for parents to be aware of nighttime and daytime
symptoms of sleep
apnea.
If you
think you or a
loved one may
have
symptoms of a
sleep disorder,
please
contact us
today.
Help
is available!
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