{"id":383,"date":"2023-03-02T20:16:26","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T20:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/learn-it-sleep-apnea-and-sids\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T22:15:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T22:15:03","slug":"learn-it-sleep-apnea-and-sids","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/learn-it-sleep-apnea-and-sids\/","title":{"raw":"Sleep Disorders: Learn It 4\u2014Sleep Apnea and SIDS","rendered":"Sleep Disorders: Learn It 4\u2014Sleep Apnea and SIDS"},"content":{"raw":"

Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n

sleep apnea<\/h3>\r\n

Sleep apnea<\/strong> is defined by episodes during which a sleeper\u2019s breathing stops. These episodes can last 10\u201320 seconds or longer and often are associated with brief periods of arousal. There are two types of sleep apnea:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • Obstructive sleep apnea<\/strong> occurs when an individual\u2019s airway becomes blocked during sleep, and air is prevented from entering the lungs.<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Central sleep apnea <\/strong>occurs due to a\u00a0disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing cause periods of interrupted breathing (White, 2005).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n

    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).\u00a0Loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses or gasps<\/span>, morning headaches, dry mouth, non-restorative sleep, and daytime sleepiness.<\/p>\r\n

    Untreated OSA is linked with hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, coronary disease, stroke<\/span>, and poorer quality of life.<\/p>\r\n

    Treatments for Sleep Apnea<\/h3>\r\n

    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).\u00a0 Weight loss also aids in lowering sleep apnea severity.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>\r\n

    \r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"732\"]\"Photograph Figure 1<\/strong>. (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.[\/caption]\r\n<\/figure>\r\n
    \r\n

    SIDS<\/h2>\r\n
    \r\n

    sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

    SIDS<\/b><\/span> is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year<\/span> during sleep. It\u2019s part of the broader category SUID<\/span> (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death). Risk is highest between 1\u20134 months<\/span>, and incidence is higher in boys<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"244\"]\"The Figure 2<\/strong>. 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[\/caption]\r\n\r\n

    The substantial amount of research on SIDS has led to a number of recommendations to parents to protect their children:<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • 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).<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Infants should not have caps placed on their heads when put down to sleep in order to prevent overheating, and people in the child\u2019s household should abstain from smoking in the home.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

       <\/p>\r\n

      [ohm2_question height=\"350\"]3973[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"

      Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n
      \n

      sleep apnea<\/h3>\n

      Sleep apnea<\/strong> is defined by episodes during which a sleeper\u2019s breathing stops. These episodes can last 10\u201320 seconds or longer and often are associated with brief periods of arousal. There are two types of sleep apnea:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Obstructive sleep apnea<\/strong> occurs when an individual\u2019s airway becomes blocked during sleep, and air is prevented from entering the lungs.<\/li>\n
      • Central sleep apnea <\/strong>occurs due to a\u00a0disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing cause periods of interrupted breathing (White, 2005).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

        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.<\/p>\n

        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).\u00a0Loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses or gasps<\/span>, morning headaches, dry mouth, non-restorative sleep, and daytime sleepiness.<\/p>\n

        Untreated OSA is linked with hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, coronary disease, stroke<\/span>, and poorer quality of life.<\/p>\n

        Treatments for Sleep Apnea<\/h3>\n

        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).\u00a0 Weight loss also aids in lowering sleep apnea severity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        \n
        \"Photograph
        Figure 1<\/strong>. (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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
        \n

        SIDS<\/h2>\n
        \n

        sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        SIDS<\/b><\/span> is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year<\/span> during sleep. It\u2019s part of the broader category SUID<\/span> (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death). Risk is highest between 1\u20134 months<\/span>, and incidence is higher in boys<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

        \"The
        Figure 2<\/strong>. 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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        The substantial amount of research on SIDS has led to a number of recommendations to parents to protect their children:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • 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).<\/li>\n
        • Infants should not have caps placed on their heads when put down to sleep in order to prevent overheating, and people in the child\u2019s household should abstain from smoking in the home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

           <\/p>\n