Disrupting Sleep by Interrupting Breath

Sleep apnoea is a fairly common ailment, affecting adults and children all over the world. It varies in intensity, causing a wide range of symptoms from light snoring to possible congestive heart failure. It's caused by repeated, abnormally long interruptions in breathing while sleeping, and while it is only rarely fatal, it can result in sleep deprivation or daytime exhaustion for the sufferer.

Sleep apnoea is unique in that the sufferer usually doesn't realize they have it; their symptoms are noticed by the people around them. Premature infants are at particular risk for central sleep apnoea, as their immature brains and reflexes may not be able to startle them awake when breathing has stopped. Sleep apnoea has been considered as a possible cause of SIDS, though there is no evidence to determine whether this is true.

Monitoring for Sleep Apnoea

Any person who is difficult to wake, frequently tired or exhausted during the day, or exhibits symptoms of sleep deprivation (including hyperactivity and moodiness in children) may be suffering from sleep apnoea. The first step in confirming these suspicions at home is to begin using a baby monitor. Listening to your baby sleep can help you determine whether there are interruptions in breathing, how frequently and for how long, and correlate those findings with the behavior of your child the next day.

With toddlers and small children, you want to make sure their breathing is not being stopped artifically - i.e., by a baby blanket accidentally pulled over their face. You may want to remove the baby blanket they currently sleep with, or make sure the baby blanket is firmly anchored so that it cannot be pulled up. You may need to go into the child's room after they fall asleep to remove the baby blanket, or trade it out with a different, thinner baby blanket, which may be easier to breathe through. If you cannot remove the baby blanket from their room due to their noticing and objecting, then just monitor with extra care. If your baby's breathing begins to sound muffled or indistinct, check to make sure their baby blanket isn't over their face or nose.

When Normal Becomes Abnormal

Infants and small children being monitored at home on suspicion of sleep apnoea should have their usual comforter or duvet replaced with a thinner type of baby blanket, or have the baby blanket removed entirely. Many children burrow under a baby blanket while they sleep, or may snuggle into a baby blanket against their chin, which may make their breathing sound more labored than it is. Heavy breathing is not cause for concern; pauses or interruptions in breathing, longer than ten seconds, and frequent throughout the night, are a good reason to consult with your child's pediatrician.

Everyone stops breathing while they sleep, but a pause longer than ten seconds is considered a sign of sleep apnoea. Likewise, snoring is common and not considered a definitive sign of sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea covers a broad range of symptoms and behavioral clues, many of which are shared by other diagnoses, making it a particularly complicated disorder to label.