Sleep Disorders: Learn It 4—Sleep Apnea and SIDS

Sleep Apnea

sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is defined by episodes during which a sleeper’s breathing stops. These episodes can last 10–20 seconds or longer and often are associated with brief periods of arousal. There are two types of sleep apnea:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when an individual’s airway becomes blocked during sleep, and air is prevented from entering the lungs.
  • Central sleep apnea occurs due to a disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing cause periods of interrupted breathing (White, 2005).

While people are often unaware of their sleep apnea, they are keenly aware of some of the adverse consequences of insufficient sleep such as increased fatigue, a lack of mental alertness, and trouble concentrating.

Many individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea first seek treatment because their sleeping partners indicate that they snore loudly and/or stop breathing for extended periods of time while sleeping (Henry & Rosenthal, 2013). Loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses or gasps, morning headaches, dry mouth, non-restorative sleep, and daytime sleepiness.

Untreated OSA is linked with hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, coronary disease, stroke, and poorer quality of life.

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea involves the use of a special device during sleep. A positive airway pressure (PAP) device (including CPAP/APAP/BPAP) with mask options (nasal, nasal pillows, or oronasal) are proven methods for helping, though some patients find the devices cumbersome. For those who do not find success with CPAPs, a dentist may provide an oral appliance (OAT).  Weight loss also aids in lowering sleep apnea severity. 

 

Photograph A shows a CPAP device. Photograph B shows a clear full face CPAP mask attached to a mannequin's head with straps.
Figure 1. (a) A typical CPAP device used in the treatment of sleep apnea is (b) affixed to the head with straps, and a mask that covers the nose and mouth.

SIDS

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year during sleep. It’s part of the broader category SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death). Risk is highest between 1–4 months, and incidence is higher in boys.

The “Safe to Sleep” campaign logo shows a baby sleeping on his back and the words “safe to sleep.”
Figure 2. The Safe to Sleep campaign educates the public about how to minimize risk factors associated with SIDS. This campaign is sponsored in part by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

The substantial amount of research on SIDS has led to a number of recommendations to parents to protect their children:

  • Research suggests that infants should be placed on their backs when put down to sleep, and their cribs should not contain any items which pose suffocation threats, such as blankets, pillows or padded crib bumpers (cushions that cover the bars of a crib).
  • Infants should not have caps placed on their heads when put down to sleep in order to prevent overheating, and people in the child’s household should abstain from smoking in the home.