If your child snores, you and your partner might want to
take a hard look at your health. A new study suggests that child snoring and other sleep
symptoms could be indicative of problematic physical features that can be
passed from one generation to the next.
Scientists in New Zealand conducted a survey of kids whose
parents suffer from obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA), a serious condition often accompanied by loud snoring. Children
with parents who were at low risk of sleep apnea were also polled. The study
revealed that kids who reported sleep apnea symptoms in their parents tended to
exhibit many of the same symptoms themselves, including snoring.
The researchers identified several potential sleep apnea
risk factors that could be influenced by genetics and thus make child snoring
more likely:
- Obesity
- Bone structure in the face creating narrow airways
- Large tongue size
- A thicker neck
Snoring isn’t always tied to sleep apnea, and parents
with one or more of these risk factors won’t necessarily pass the traits along
to their children. However, evidence does suggest that a family history of
sleep apnea could increase the likelihood of developing the disorder.
If your child is snoring or exhibiting other symptoms that
could be indicative of sleep apnea, early treatment is critical to his/her
healthy development. Contact an
experienced local sleep physician or call 1 (866) 727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK)
today for more information.