Snoring is a condition that occurs during sleep, where vibrations are produced in the throat due to partial clogging of air flow. Most people experience some occasional snoring, and many people suffer from more severe snoring. If you are a parent and your child has begun to snore more frequently, it can be hard to know what to do, and diagnosing problematic snoring can be difficult. Find out all you need to know about your kid’s snoring habits, and whether you should be worried about our informational blog from Sleep MD. Get expert opinions about your sleep patterns and solutions when you schedule an appointment with Sleep MD today!
How to Determine If Your Child’s Snoring Habits Are Harmful
Because snoring is not one of the more serious medical issues, it can be hard to imagine how the simple act of snoring could be a symptom of another illness. Determining your child’s snoring habits and weekly routine will help you begin to decide if the snoring is just that, or if it’s pointing towards a more serious complication. Before anything, determine if your child has been sick with a sinus infection recently, is about to be sick, or is currently experiencing a sinus infection. The buildup of extra mucus adds moisture to our mouths and snoring is more likely to occur. The first step to determining the severity of your child’s snoring is to start tracking how many nights a week your child is consistently snoring. If the number is five or above after seven days, it may be a sign for you to consider looking further into what is causing the snoring for your kid specifically.
Other signs that may indicate more problematic snoring includes consistent snoring that is accompanied by small gasps, breaths or incredibly loud snores. Children can often show signs of having large respiratory or sleep specific issues, but never know because snoring is such a minor symptom but checking in on sleeping patterns and snoring habits can help any parent determine the right course of action for their child. If your kid begins to exhibit signs of gasping or taking large, loud breaths during nighttime snores, there may be a deeper reason such as asthma, large tonsils, sleep apnea, or an obstructed airway. To rule out an obstructed airway, start implementing a no eating policy at least two hours before bedtime, and check your child’s airway right before bed. If the excessive snoring continues, it may be time to see a sleep specialist to get a better idea of what you and your child are dealing with. Schedule an appointment with Sleep MD today to get the qualified insight you need for your child now!
In most cases, excessive and consistent snoring in children has a reasonable cause. Kids get sick constantly, and mucus takes at least two weeks to fully clear out of our systems before we truly recover from an illness, and that mucus can cause vibrations and snoring until it has been completely cleared away. The most severe illness that can result from excessive snoring patterns is sleep apnea, and this should be investigated immediately if your child has not been sick recently, and if their airways have been looking clear for a while. Sleep apnea can affect more than just your child’s respiratory health, it can lead to severe daily challenges, as sleep is essential to our daily function, and children need it even more as their bodies continue to grow. If you are concerned about the potential for a sleep apnea diagnosis for your child, contact the expert team at Sleep MD today to schedule your first appointment with a specialist and put your mind at ease!
