Does your baby snore up regularly? He might have serious health problems
Dr David McIntos, an internationally recognised ENT expert specialising in paediatrics, explains that the fact that a baby is snoring might be a sign of serious health problems.
If a baby regularly snores (that is, if he does it at least for a night a week, while not having a cold or being sick), it might be a sign of underlying health problems.
“Breathing is an automated process, controlled by the brain. By monitoring chemical levels in the blood, the brain can work out if the breathing is working properly. If the signals to the brain indicate that something is wrong, the brain can alter the rate of breathing to compensate. The problem of airway obstruction [which is what happens when you are snoring] though is that even if the brain recognises there is a problem, increasing the effort of breathing achieves very little. Furthermore, blockage to breathing results in oxygen levels in the blood dropping. This is something the brain does not like very much,” Dr McIntosh declared.
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According to a large study that monitored 1,000 children over a period of six years, beginning at six months of age, children that snored had a higher incidence of behavioural issues such as reduced attention, higher levels of social problems and anxiety, depressive symptoms, as well as cognitive dysfunctions or memory problems.
“Those children who suffered most severely from sleep-disordered breathing at around age two-and-a-half had the highest risk for hyperactivity, and children who stopped snoring over time, were still more likely to have problems than children that had never snored,” Dr McIntosh stated.
It is therefore advised to go with your child and see a doctor as soon as you hear him snoring.
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