Snoring is a fairly common problem that affects both adults and children. When a child falls asleep, the muscles of the airway relax and vibrate, causing the harsh noise of snoring in the nose and throat. If their children snore, parents should ask their pediatricians about it, because in some cases, snoring can cause health problems.
Common Causes of Snoring in Children
Several factors related to the anatomy of structures in the nose, mouth and neck can lead to snoring. First of all, children with narrow airways are more likely to snore.
For example, the child could have a deviated septum, or a problem with the bone and cartilage that separates the nose into the two nostrils. Children could also have large tonsils or tissues in the back of their mouth, blocking the movement of air when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep.
The child could have a chronically stuffed nose due to allergies, and being overweight can also contribute to narrowing of a child's airway, because fat tissue can build up in the neck and limit airflow, especially if a child sleeps on his back.
Snoring in Children and Sleep Apnea
However, perhaps most seriously, children can snore because of a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious problem where breathing repeatedly starts and stops at night. Children might have sleep apnea if they snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep. Children with untreated sleep apnea may have memory, concentration, attention and hyperactivity problems.
Snoring and A Child's Brain
Snoring occurs because of a narrow or blocked airway, which could mean less oxygen getting to the brain at night. This could have serious consequences. According to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, 2/3 of children who have snoring or sleep apnea have some problems with brain function. This can have a profound effect on a child, not only in relationship to sleep and behavior, but also on the development of the brain and central nervous system, especially in young children.
Like other tissues in the body, the brain needs oxygen to function and grow. In sleep apnea, children have extended pauses in breathing, multiple times an hour, and this would lead to less oxygen flowing in the brain, and then biochemical changes in the brain tissue as it tries to cope.
New research continues to explore the relationship between snoring and blood oxygen levels at night, and the impact on children's brains. Current evidence suggests that snoring can, indeed, affect children's brains.
Other health problems associated with snoring
According to MayoClinic.com, children who snore may also have more restless sleep, gasping or choking at night, high blood pressure, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, or behavior problems, like attention deficit and hyperactivity. Because of poor sleep and problems with behavior and focus, these children often have poor academic school performance.
What To Do if Your Child Snores
If your child snores, you should ask your pediatrician about it. Treating the cause of the snoring can help prevent health problems and help your child sleep better. A parent should suspect that snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea if a child has periods at night when she stops breathing or gasps, feels tired even after sleeping, and has school or behavior problems.
References
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Snoring
- "Pediatrics"; Cerebral blood flow velocity and cognition in children before and after adenotonsillectomy; A.M. Hogan; 2008
- MayoClinic.com: Snoring
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children
- Cincinnati Children's: Snoring and Brain Function
