Don’t Wait To Treat

Does your child snore or breathe through their mouth at night? Or do they show other signs of disturbed sleep such as night sweats, tossing and turning, night terrors or nightmares? Does your child get up often to use the bathroom in the middle of the night? If so, your child may have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder. But, should you worry about or will they just outgrow it? Dr. Korous helps to diagnose and treat children with sleep apnea in Frisco, Texas, at Millennium Smiles.

Sleep apnea is more common in children than many adults realize; researchers estimate than one to four percent of children between two and eight years old are affected.

Is It Just Temporary?

While there is a chance that children living with sleep apnea or other sleep disorder will outgrow their condition, in most cases that does not happen and the condition persists through adulthood.

Additionally, waiting to treat sleep apnea has significant consequences, including:

• High blood pressure
• Increased risk of developing diabetes
• Weight gain and obesity
• Difficulty concentrating
• Inability to focus

Studies have also shown a connection between untreated pediatric sleep disorders and behavioral conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and that as much as 25 percent of kids diagnosed with the disorder have sleep apnea.

Other research has shown evidence on the impact of the lack of sleep caused by sleep disorders on functions of the brain because the body is never reaching deep sleep (also known as slow-wave or nREM sleep), such as self- monitoring, planning, memory, organization, self-regulation and the ability to wake up from sleep.

And, if your child never reaches slow-wave, nREM sleep, they may experience stunted growth. This happens because growth hormone production occurs during this sleep stage. Many children living with undiagnosed sleep apnea or other sleep disorders are small than their peers.

So, Should You Treat Now?

If your child is showing the signs of undiagnosed sleep apnea or has been diagnosed with sleep apnea and is not being treated, let’s talk. Treating sleep apnea now can help prevent a lifetime of severe health afflictions. Talk to us today about your concerns and schedule a consultation with Millennium Smiles in Frisco, Texas, by calling 972-468-8771.