Treatment

Sitting is the new smoking

Factors that can contribute to OSA include being overweight, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol, especially prior to sleep. Often losing 10 – 15 kilos can reduce the severity of sleep apnoea, as too can a dental night splint.

Sitting in the car or on public transport on the way to work, then at a desk working for hours at a time, and then in front of the TV when you get home, has led to sitting being referred to as ‘the new smoking’.

Did you know?

Increase in paediatric sleep apnoea caused by childhood obesity.

Usually associated with overweight middle-aged men, sleep apnoea can also affect children.

Some causes can include enlarged tonsils and adenoids – surgery may be recommended to remove them – or a large overbite. However, the increase in overweight and obese children has also led to an increase in paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea.

Sleep is very important for children as that’s the time when body growth hormones are released.

When children don’t get the sleep they need, (9-10 hours per night) or their sleep patterns are disrupted due to sleep apnoea, they are at a higher risk for other health problems.

Fatigue and difficulty concentrating resulting from poor sleep can lead to poor performance at school.

Sleep deprivation in children is often not considered as a cause or attributed to attention-deficit or behaviour disorders.

Treating OSA in children is the same as adults. Depending on the severity and following a sleep study, a dental appliance or CPAP machine may be recommended. If you think your child may be suffering from paediatric sleep apnoea, schedule a consultation. You can call us on (03) 9888 5677 or visit 1/92 Balwyn Rd, Balwyn VIC 3103.

iSmile Studio Dental
1/92 Balwyn Rd,
Balwyn VIC 3103