snoring Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Does Your Child Snore? When to See a Doctor

The AHA! Team — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:16:12 +0000

Morgan deBlecourt via Duke Health – Childhood Snoring Can Signal Sleep-Disordered Breathing or Sleep Apnea Does Your Child Snore? If your child snores, don’t ignore it. Consistent snoring in children can be a sign that they’re not breathing well at night. This can reduce the quality of your child’s sleep and affect growth, development, behavior, and overall health. Here Duke Health pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor Janet Lee, MD, who specializes in treating pediatric sleep disorders, answers questions about when childhood snoring is concerning and whether your child should see a doctor. Is Snoring Normal in Kids? It is common for children to snore for a few days or weeks when they have a cold or another respiratory virus. It becomes concerning, Dr. Lee said, when snoring persists for three months or longer. It’s especially concerning if your child chokes, gasps, or stops breathing for short periods during sleep. These may be signs that your child is experiencing sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea. What Causes Snoring in Children? Snoring in children occurs when the upper airway narrows, making it difficult to breathe normally. This can be caused by: Enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids Obstructed nasal passages (for example, deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, etc.) Being overweight Environmental allergies or asthma Small or narrow palate, jaw, or voice box Poor muscle tone Other medical conditions like heart or lung disease, Down Syndrome, or Cerebral Palsy What Are Other Red Flags of a Sleep Disorder? Loud snoring, pauses in breathing at night, and gasping during sleep are the most obvious signs of breathing difficulty that affects sleep quality. Other signs include restless sleep, regular tiredness despite having enough sleep (9-14 hours, depending on age), mouth-breathing while sleeping, or bed-wetting after being previously being potty trained at night. What’s the Big Deal with Childhood Snoring? “Sleep affects a lot of different systems,” Dr. Lee said. “When it comes to children, you have to consider its effects on physical health, especially for kids who have other health issues. You also need to consider how poor sleep can affect development.” Ironically, children who don’t sleep well may experience hyperactivity. They may also struggle to stay awake or concentrate at school, feel irritable, or have behavior problems. What Should I Do About My Child’s Snoring? If you’re concerned about your child’s snoring and sleep quality, ask your pediatrician for a referral to or make an appointment with a pediatric ENT or a pediatric sleep specialist. “Our role is to identify whether your child has a breathing problem. Then we start looking for where that problem is,” Dr. Lee said. These specialists may recommend an overnight sleep study in a specialized pediatric sleep lab. You will accompany your child while sleep technologists monitor and observe your child sleeping. Your child may also benefit from an endoscopy — a doctor passes a flexible camera through your child’s nose or mouth to inspect their anatomy. This can be done while your child is awake or under general anesthesia. What Are the Potential Treatment Options? Based on your child’s test results, symptoms, and your family’s preferences, a doctor may recommend medication, surgery, lifestyle changes, or a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to help your child breathe and rest better at night. For children older than three, the most common and effective treatment is surgically removing the tonsils and adenoids. Many children are able go home the same day. Why Choose Duke for My Child’s Care? Duke is one of a handful of centers in the North Carolina with a pediatric sleep lab, designed with your child’s comfort in mind and staffed by specially trained technicians. Duke offers the highest level of care for all kids with sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea, from the simplest cases to the most complex, including children who have other medical conditions. If you’re on the fence about seeking care for your child’s snoring, Dr. Lee said it’s worth seeing a doctor. “As parents, sometimes we’re so used to a symptom or behavior that we don’t see it anymore. Having another, expert pair of eyes can be helpful. Then we can make a decision about next steps together.” To read the original article click here.

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Warning: This Nighttime Risk Could be Raising Your Blood Pressure

The AHA! Team — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 06:52:27 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – Often brushed off as a minor annoyance, snoring is now recognized as a potential indicator of significant health risks. Have you ever found yourself jolted awake in the dead of night, only to realize it was your own snoring that woke you? Or perhaps you’re one of the many lying awake beside a partner whose snores fill the silence, keeping you from getting the rest you need. If so, you’re far from alone. Snoring is more common – and more impactful – than many realize. Often brushed off as a minor annoyance, snoring is now recognized as a potential indicator of significant health risks. According to a recent study published in NPJ Digital Medicine, snoring may be more than just a nighttime nuisance. Is there something wrong with your blood pressure? Snoring is more than an annoyance to your bedmate. The study linked above found that snoring could be an early warning sign of high blood pressure, a serious condition that can lead to a range of cardiovascular issues. According to the study, the risk is especially pronounced in middle-aged, overweight men, highlighting that snoring might not just impact sleep but overall health. To uncover these insights, researchers used advanced, at-home monitoring tools, collecting data over six months on 12,287 participants. They found that regular snoring had a meaningful effect on blood pressure levels. Specifically, 15% of participants snored for more than 20% of their sleep hours, and these individuals had nearly double the risk of uncontrolled hypertension compared to those who snored less often. These findings suggest that consistent snoring could significantly impact cardiovascular health, yet it remains an overlooked risk factor for both the medical community and the general public. In-home sleep monitoring: How the study was conducted To accurately assess the relationship between snoring and hypertension, researchers leveraged innovative technology. Participants were monitored nightly with under-mattress sensors, which provided objective data on snoring frequency, sleep apnea, and other sleep quality indicators. This multi-night, real-world approach offered a more reliable snapshot of snoring patterns compared to previous studies that relied on single-night or self-reported data. Additionally, participants’ blood pressure levels were tracked with FDA-approved, at-home blood pressure monitors, providing precise and consistent daytime readings. Over nine months, researchers gathered sleep data and repeated blood pressure measurements from each participant, resulting in a comprehensive analysis of nearly 12,300 people. The findings were clear: those who snored regularly – especially those spending 10-20% of the night snoring – had higher blood pressure levels, even when accounting for sleep apnea. Natural ways to reduce or stop snoring The findings from the recent snoring study will be valuable for shaping future clinical treatments and therapies to reduce snoring and manage hypertension. While we’re still learning more, there are several things you can try right now to cut down on snoring or even eliminate it entirely. If you suspect a nasal airway obstruction, a simple nasal spray could help open up your airways. Consider using a Neti Pot or a similar device to flush out your sinuses with warm water for a more thorough approach. This can make a noticeable difference in clearing your nasal passages. If your own snoring wakes you up at night or if your partner has mentioned it, it’s a good idea to get checked for sleep apnea. There’s often a link between snoring and sleep apnea, and the risk of developing uncontrolled hypertension is nearly doubled for those who snore regularly and have sleep apnea. The vibrations from snoring that travel through your nasal passages can also be reduced by tackling some of the underlying risk factors. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, start by incorporating more physical activity into your routine. If you’re carrying extra weight, making healthier food choices and starting an exercise program can have a big impact on snoring and overall health. As a final note: dairy products and sugary foods will tend to create more mucus in the upper respiratory tract. Try to limit or avoid these products for improved breathing. Sources for this article include: Nature.com Scitechdaily.com To read the original article click here.

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