In general, the people who are at most at risk for sleep apnea are older individuals and people who are severely overweight. Sleep apnea can prevent the body and brain from getting the deep, restful sleep required by everyone to perform at their peak. For adolescents suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), academic studies can be seriously affected.
When someone is suffering the OSA, the soft tissues in the throat can temporarily close during sleep. The brain must then wake the body and open the throat so oxygen can reach the lungs. This process can occur hundreds of times in a single night, resulting in many different physical and mental side effects:
- Daytime Exhaustion
- Depression
- High Blood Pressure
- Memory Loss
- Weight Gain
- Headaches
If your child is dealing with some or all of these sleep apnea symptoms while attempting to complete schoolwork, their grades could suffer. By contacting an experienced sleep dentist like Dr. Ira Shaira in Gurnee, Illinois, you can find out if your son or daughter is suffering from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects millions of people all over the world, so there is a chance that your child is suffering from the dangerous sleep disorder. Please contact Dr. Ira Shapira, Gurnee, Illinois sleep dentist today to schedule a sleep evaluation.