Understanding Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB): Recognizing the Signs in Your Children, Spouse, and Friends

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a common yet often overlooked condition that can have significant effects on physical health, emotional well-being, and quality of life. While many are familiar with snoring, SDB encompasses a broader spectrum of conditions, the most prevalent being obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite affecting millions of people worldwide, SDB often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for other issues. By learning how to recognize the signs of SDB in your children, spouse, or friends, you can help ensure that they receive the treatment they need.

What Is Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB)?

SDB refers to a group of disorders that disrupt normal breathing patterns during sleep. These interruptions may range from mild snoring to more severe conditions, such as OSA, where the airway becomes blocked, causing frequent pauses in breathing. These pauses reduce oxygen levels and place stress on the heart and brain, leading to poor sleep quality and various health complications over time.

The key forms of SDB include:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): When the muscles in the throat relax too much, they block the airway. This can cause someone to wake up frequently throughout the night, even if they are unaware of it.
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): A condition where the brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
• Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS): Less severe than OSA, UARS occurs when the airway partially closes, increasing breathing effort.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of SDB in Children

Children can exhibit different symptoms of SDB than adults, and these can be easily mistaken for behavioral issues or developmental challenges. It’s important to observe your child’s sleep patterns and daytime behavior, as untreated SDB can have long-term effects on their development.

Common Signs of SDB in Children:

1. Snoring or Gasping for Air: Persistent snoring is one of the most recognizable signs of SDB. If your child snores loudly or gasps for air, this may indicate obstructive sleep apnea.
2. Mouth Breathing: Children with SDB often breathe through their mouths, both while awake and during sleep. This is usually due to an obstructed nasal airway and can lead to weakened orofacial muscles, impacting speech and development.
3. Restless Sleep: If your child tosses and turns frequently or seems to struggle to get comfortable during the night, this may be a sign of sleep-disordered breathing.
4. Night Sweats or Bedwetting: Excessive sweating during sleep and bedwetting can also be linked to SDB. Bedwetting, particularly in older children, can signal underlying airway dysfunction.
5. Daytime Sleepiness or Hyperactivity: Children with SDB may appear sleepy, irritable, or have difficulty concentrating during the day. Paradoxically, some children may show signs of hyperactivity rather than fatigue, making it easy to misinterpret the symptoms as ADHD.
6. Frequent Waking or Nightmares: Children with SDB may wake up frequently during the night or suffer from nightmares, as their body struggles to maintain proper oxygen levels during sleep.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of SDB in Adults (Spouses or Friends)

Adults with SDB, particularly obstructive sleep apnea, often exhibit noticeable symptoms during both the night and the day. However, because many adults dismiss their symptoms as mere snoring or fatigue, SDB often goes undiagnosed. Understanding the signs can help your spouse, friend, or loved one seek treatment and avoid potential health risks.

Common Signs of SDB in Adults:

1. Loud, Chronic Snoring: If your spouse or friend snores loudly and regularly, this is a red flag for SDB, especially if the snoring is accompanied by gasping or choking sounds.
2. Waking Up Gasping for Air: People with SDB may wake up suddenly, gasping or choking, as their airway temporarily closes during sleep. This can happen multiple times throughout the night, even if they don’t remember it.
3. Daytime Fatigue or Sleepiness: Despite getting what seems like a full night’s sleep, adults with SDB often wake up feeling tired. They may find themselves dozing off during the day, especially in situations requiring focus, such as driving or working.
4. Morning Headaches: Persistent headaches in the morning can be a sign that oxygen levels are dropping during sleep, which is common in people with OSA.
5. Mood Changes or Difficulty Concentrating: Adults with untreated SDB may experience mood swings, depression, or difficulty concentrating due to the constant lack of restorative sleep.
6. Frequent Urination at Night: Waking up multiple times during the night to use the bathroom, known as nocturia, can be linked to sleep-disordered breathing.

The Health Impact of Undiagnosed SDB

Undiagnosed and untreated SDB can have serious long-term consequences, affecting nearly every system in the body. Recognizing the signs early and seeking treatment is crucial for preventing these health risks:

• Heart Disease: Sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and stroke.
• Diabetes: SDB is associated with insulin resistance and can make managing diabetes more difficult.
• Cognitive Decline: Chronic sleep disruptions can impair memory, focus, and overall cognitive function.
• Mood Disorders: Sleep deprivation from SDB is strongly linked to anxiety, depression, and irritability.
• Increased Risk of Accidents: Daytime drowsiness caused by SDB leads to a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents and workplace injuries.

What to Do If You Suspect SDB in a Loved One

If you notice these signs of sleep-disordered breathing in your child, spouse, or friend, it’s important to encourage them to seek professional evaluation. A sleep study (polysomnography) is the gold standard for diagnosing SDB, but other assessments like oromyofunctional evaluations can help determine if muscle dysfunction or airway resistance is contributing to the problem.

At BreatheWorks, we take a whole-patient approach to diagnosing and treating SDB. We work with sleep specialists to assess airway function and breathing patterns, and our personalized treatment plans often include oromyofunctional therapy, which focuses on strengthening the muscles that support proper airway function.

Treatment Options for SDB

The good news is that there are effective treatments for SDB, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes. Treatment options include:

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): CPAP is one of the most common treatments for OSA. This therapy uses air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep, preventing interruptions in breathing. CPAP serves as a maintenance solution rather than a cure, addressing symptoms without treating the underlying causes, such as poor muscle tone or structural airway issues. Although it can reduce apnea episodes, CPAP doesn’t resolve the root problem and presents challenges with adherence – many find the mask uncomfortable and difficult to use regularly, with less than 50% adhering to long-term use. This makes CPAP a less-than-optimal option, as it requires ongoing use without offering a permanent solution. 
• Oromyofunctional Therapy (OMT): OMT strengthens the orofacial muscles, helping to keep the airway stable during sleep. This non-invasive therapy is particularly beneficial for children and adults with muscle-related airway issues.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Weight loss, improved sleep hygiene, and addressing contributing factors like nasal congestion can reduce the severity of SDB.
• Surgical Interventions: In severe cases, surgical options like removing excess tissue from the airway or nerve stimulation may be recommended.

Conclusion

Sleep-disordered breathing is more than just snoring – it’s a serious condition that can have lasting effects on health and quality of life. By learning to recognize the signs of SDB in your children, spouse, or friends, you can help them get the treatment they need. At BreatheWorks, we focus on addressing the underlying causes of SDB through a comprehensive, whole-patient approach that improves airway function and restores healthy sleep. If you suspect a loved one may be suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, encourage them to seek professional care and start the journey toward better sleep and health.