Signs and Symptoms
Sleep Disordered Breathing not only refers to breathing difficulties during sleep, but it is also a root cause for many other symptoms that children frequently exhibit. These symptoms are often left untreated or misdiagnosed.
Nasal breathing is breathing through the nose during the day and/or at night. Proper nasal breathing filters, warms, and moisturizes the air for optimal assimilation by the lungs, increasing oxygen intake and encouraging REM sleep.
Being frequently tired or irritable occurs when there is a reduction of oxygen and a buildup of carbon dioxide, which directly affects the body’s ability to achieve quality sleep. This results in feeling frequently tired and irritable.
Snoring is a direct result of mouth breathing and is the sound associated with the vibration of the uvula. This vibration occurs as incoming air speeds up to enter the restrictive opening of the throat.
Nightmares and night terrors can cause an interruption of sleep. Nightmares typi- cally occur later in sleep and cause the child to wake up and make it difficult to go back to sleep. A night terror has been associated with a child screaming but many times not waking up. Both nightmares and night terrors can result in a child’s day-time sleepiness and can be associated with sleep talking, sleep walking, and bed-wetting.
Mouth breathing is breathing through the mouth instead of the nose during the day and/or at night. This symptom can lead to a constriction of the airway, particularly while sleeping when the jaw, tongue, and airway muscles relax and allow rearward displacement, and collapse of the airway which restricts air intake and reduces oxygen in the body. Mouth breathing is the symptom that impacts sleep the most being present in 69% of individuals
Being frequently tired or irritable occurs when there is a reduction of oxygen and a buildup of carbon dioxide, which directly affects the body’s ability to achieve quality sleep. This results in feeling frequently tired and irritable.
These issues stem from airway disruption during sleep. As a child's breathing is restricted, their body reacts as though the child is choking, resulting in lower oxygen levels, higher heart rate and higher blood pressure.
Improper positioning of teeth can also cause SDB symptoms, as close baby teeth can often signify that a child's dental arches are too narrow. Adult teeth are bigger and wider than baby teeth, and if there isn't enough room for the adult teeth to grow in, the teeth begin to crowd together or protrude. Dental arches that are too narrow lead to unhealthy airway development, as the lack of room hinders facial growth and compromises the airway.
How Can HealthyStart® Help?
The central issue for many children suffering from the effects of Sleep Disordered Breathing is a compromised airway. When a child's airway is narrow, underdeveloped, or constricted in any way, the child will struggle to receive enough oxygen at night and may resort to mouth breathing to compound the issue.
The HealthyStart® System opens the airway by bringing the upper and lower jaws forward, allowing for maximum airflow, aiding in the improvement of Sleep Disordered Breathing symptoms. Our system also has the ability to encourage mid-face growth and airway development.
The width of the airway worsens over time if not treated, making it increasingly challenging for a child not only to breathe but also to live their day-to-day lives comfortably. The HealthyStart® System can open up the airway and improve airway width, while encouraging nasal breathing and ensuring that children are able to live happy and healthy lives.