Sound Sleep Guide

Posts Tagged ‘sleeping difficulties’

Despite the fact that we have known for a long time that children who suffer from sleep apnea commonly get relatively low scores on IQ tests (normally scoring an average of 85 as opposed to a score of 101 for children who are not suffering from sleep apnea) one thing which has not been known until recently is that this arises out of chemical changes within the brain. As a result an otherwise bright child may well produce a second-rate performance as a result of nothing more than a sleeping problem that, in almost all cases, can be treated quite simply.

In a recent study carried out in Baltimore, 31 kids aged between 6 and 16 (19 of whom were suffering from severe sleep apnea) were examined with a special form or MRI and it was discovered that those children suffering from sleep apnea displayed significant changes in the right frontal cortex and hippocampus which are areas of the brain which are associated with learning and higher mental function.

This study also discovered that these kids were suffering from levels of three brain chemicals which were indicative of brain damage. This change to the chemistry of the brain resulting from sleep apnea may or may not be permanent and, at this point, further studies will be necessary to see if this effect can be reversed.

Even if reversal is possible however and the brain chemistry and cognitive function can be normalized, kids with sleep apnea will suffer learning problems as long as they have untreated sleep apnea and will certainly not be able to rewind time and regain this period of learning.

Parents should of course already be looking out for the signs of sleep apnea in their kids but this study clearly indicates that an early diagnosis and treatment of this sleep problem may have a substantial affect on a child’s success in life.

The signs of sleep apnea include frequent pauses in breathing during sleep which often result in an arousal from sleep and to tossing and turning in bed. Children may also display labored or loud breathing, snoring, gasping, coughing and, sometimes, bedwetting at an age when should generally have passed.

Parents might also notice that a child is sleeping in a strange position, perhaps with their bottom pointing up into the air and their head tilted back in an unconscious effort to keep their airway clear.

In very many cases child sleep apnea can be treated by removing the tonsils and adenoids, or excess tissue from the nose or the back of the throat. In addition, a continuous positive airways pressure machine (or pediatric CPAP) may also be employed to give the child a flow of air delivered through a mask worn while sleeping to keep the airway open.

In itself sleep apnea is debilitating for any child and the effect of night after night of inadequate sleep are going to take their toll on your child. But, when you combine this with an impairment of your child’s IQ, it becomes essential that you act at the earliest possible opportunity to get the condition diagnosed and treated.

Insomnia is an extremely common sleep disorder which is characterized by interruptions to sleep, shortened sleeping time, restlessness and on occasions by complete wakefulness.

Apart from being extremely annoying, insomnia can cause sufferers to lose their energy and enthusiasm, develop memory and concentration problems and to feel lethargic and frustrated. This in turn can lead to a drop in work productivity and also to accidents which can have serious consequences.

There are lots of different causes of insomnia but here are just 6 which are commonly seen:

1. Environmental Factors. Our environment is very important when it comes to sleep and things like noise, light or extremes of temperature can lead to insomnia.

2. Substance Abuse. The most obvious form of substance abuse when talking about insomnia is coffee, together with other drinks which are high in caffeine. Smoking too might fall into this category as heavy or chain smokers consume more than sufficient quantities of nicotine to cause problems sleeping. However, what is perhaps less well known is that this list of substances is fairly long and even includes many herbal remedies which are taken for a range of different problems and which can cause insomnia as a side effect. Finally, we must not forget alcohol. Although alcohol can often induce tiredness initially once it is metabolized it too can keep you wide awake.

3. Disturbance To The Biological Clock. Each of us has our own body clock or circadian rhythm which is controlled in part by light and darkness and which regulates the body’s sleep/wake cycle. If this clock is thrown out of balance by things like staying up all night studying in college, partying into the small hours or jetting off around the world on business or for pleasure, then you will suffer from sleeping difficulties while the clock slowly tries to re-adjust itself.

4. Activities Prior To Going To Bed. There is a list of things that can produce insomnia if they take place close to bedtime and two items at the top of this list are taking exercise shortly before going to bed or eating a big meal shortly before retiring. These particular activities stimulate the body’s metabolism and keep you awake.

5. Health Problems. There are many different health problems which are known to induce insomnia such as diabetes, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, ulcers, and Parkinson’s disease. Asthma is also increasingly being recognized as a cause of insomnia, as is heartburn, the need for frequent urination and chronic pain resulting from such things as arthritis and leg cramps. The list here is very long indeed and also includes other forms of sleep disorder such as sleep apnea and a range of psychiatric conditions.

6. Emotional Problems. Almost all of us suffer from emotional distress occasionally and this can frequently lead to such things as anxiety or anger. But, if we keep our feelings to ourselves instead of talking about them and seeking a solution to them then this commonly results in insomnia.