| A lot of attention has been focused on
| |
| | symptoms, and then to seek the medical
|
| diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep
| |
| | help of a sleep disorders specialist.
|
| apnea (OSA) in adults, and rightly so.
| |
| | Without medical attention, some sleep
|
| But in all this excitement and interest,
| |
| | disorders can go on for years, being
|
| we have lost sight of our children.
| |
| | unrecognized and untreated, ultimately
|
| Children are also affected by sleep
| |
| | resulting in more severe problems in
|
| disorders, including those commonly found
| |
| | adulthood.
|
| in adults, such as snoring, obstructive
| |
| | Finally, restless legs syndrome (RLS) has
|
| sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs
| |
| | received a lot of attention recently.
|
| syndrome. According to the National
| |
| | This attention is well deserved, because
|
| Sleep Foundation, more than two-thirds of
| |
| | RLS is a common medical problem for both
|
| children in America experience sleep
| |
| | children and adults. Often people
|
| problems at least a few nights a week.
| |
| | misunderstand RLS. RLS is an
|
| Unfortunately, children do not usually
| |
| | uncomfortable or unpleasant sensation
|
| complain of sleep problems.
| |
| | that occurs primarily in the legs,
|
| Did you know that snoring is not
| |
| | usually in the evening or at night. It
|
| considered to be a normal condition in
| |
| | is characterized by the urge to move the
|
| children? In fact, the American Academy
| |
| | legs to relieve discomfort, and movement
|
| of Pediatrics has recognized the
| |
| | of the legs is associated with a
|
| importance of screening for snoring in
| |
| | temporary relief of the symptoms. RLS
|
| kids, and they recommend evaluating all
| |
| | may be due to reduced iron stores.
|
| children who snore for underlying sleep
| |
| | Therefore, a medical work-up with
|
| apnea. That's because sleep apnea in
| |
| | laboratory testing is necessary to rule
|
| children has been linked to several
| |
| | out any potentially treatable underlying
|
| significant problems. Some of these
| |
| | causes, such as iron deficiency or
|
| problems include growth and developmental
| |
| | anemia. RLS usually prevents or delays
|
| effects, mood and learning disorders
| |
| | the onset of sleep, and it may cause
|
| (i.e., irritability, depression, ADHD),
| |
| | sleep disturbance during the night.
|
| and social dysfunction (e.g., difficulty
| |
| | Children with RLS may complain of
|
| interacting with friends or family
| |
| | uncomfortable or unpleasant sensations in
|
| members). Interestingly, children with
| |
| | their legs. In some cases, children may
|
| OSA do not present with symptoms similar
| |
| | complain of soreness in their legs. If
|
| to adults with OSA. In children with
| |
| | these symptoms persist for more than a
|
| OSA, symptoms of hyperactivity,
| |
| | few days, then it is advisable to seek
|
| irritability, or the inability to focus
| |
| | medical attention. RLS has also been
|
| and concentrate may be more common than
| |
| | associated with ADHD.
|
| fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, or
| |
| | Unfortunately, sleep problems are highly
|
| unintentional dozing. However, one
| |
| | prevalent among children but seldom
|
| symptom that is often shared by both
| |
| | discussed, recognized, or treated at
|
| children and adults with sleep apnea is
| |
| | regular office visits with the doctor.
|
| waking up feeling unrefreshed from sleep.
| |
| | It is especially important that parents
|
| Therefore, it's important for adults to
| |
| | and caregivers give special attention to
|
| pay special attention to their child's
| |
| | recognizing the signs and symptoms of
|
| sleep habits and to look out for any
| |
| | potential sleep disorders. Parents and
|
| overt problem signs.
| |
| | caregivers should seek the advice of a
|
| Another common sleep issue is insomnia.
| |
| | sleep disorders specialist when these
|
| Frequently, parents will complain that
| |
| | problems occur. Furthermore, increasing
|
| their child is not sleeping through the
| |
| | evidence suggests that a variety of
|
| night, thereby affecting everyone else's
| |
| | childhood sleep disorders are associated
|
| sleep. Insomnia itself is not a
| |
| | with inattention, hyperactivity, and
|
| distinctive diagnosis in children. On
| |
| | underlying cognitive impairment that may
|
| the contrary, it is almost always a
| |
| | have significant adverse effects on
|
| symptom of another underlying condition.
| |
| | development and school performance. We
|
| Some examples of causes of insomnia are
| |
| | do know that poor or inadequate sleep
|
| environmental factors, social stress
| |
| | results in slowed metabolism, weight
|
| (e.g., family conflicts), obstructive
| |
| | gain, and a generalized decline in
|
| sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and
| |
| | health. The complete impact of sleep
|
| movement disorders. Once the underlying
| |
| | disorders on the growth and development
|
| cause of insomnia is determined,
| |
| | of children is still not entirely known,
|
| effective treatment can be initiated.
| |
| | but the current evidence and the growing
|
| The keys are for parents or caregivers
| |
| | obesity epidemic suggest that this may be
|
| first to recognize the signs and
| |
| | a very substantial problem, indeed.
|
