How does snoring while awake impair your health?

Although it looks strange and unbelievable, it is a fact that some people have been found snoring while awake. The ratio of the snoring while awake is negligible as compared to the snoring during sleep. It is a general concept that the people only snore during sleep. Therefore, everyone knows the causes and adverse effects of snoring during sleep on the physical and mental health. Even, if there is no health risk, it looks a personality issue when you snore in public. The situation may be insulting and embarrassing for you as well. Here we are concerned with the topic of snoring while awake; therefore, we try to understand its causes and management.

The probable causes of snoring while awake

The phenomenon of snoring is the same in both the cases (sleep and awake). The obstruction of the airway causes vibration in the throat muscles which further produce snoring. If you see a case of snoring while asleep, it is not necessary that he/she might snore while awake. But, the every individual snoring while awake will also be suffering from snoring while asleep. The people who snore while awake have been found with any of the following health problems.

Allergies and infection:

Allergies and infection of upper respiratory tract cause snores. Sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and infection of throat muscles and nasal cavity cause inflammation of the muscles. The patient feels difficulty in breathing which also produces snoring sound. The presence of secretions in the nostrils and air passage also causes vibrating sound during inhalation and exhalation. Usually, it happens during sleep; however, some people have been found snoring while awake as well.

Deviated Nasal septum

The snoring during awake has also been noted in some of the deviated nasal septum cases. When you inhale the air forcefully due to DNS issue, it produces snoring sound. Even, the patients snore unavoidably while awake.

Sleep apnea

Along with many other symptoms, the sleep apnea also causes difficulty in breathing. The snoring sound is observed in the patients because of a pause in breathing in and breathing out. The patient takes a long gasp of breath after the pause which may generate snoring sound.

How to prevent the problem of snoring while awake?

As compared to snoring while sleep, the management of snoring while awake is easy. The causes of developing this issue are always known; however, many people are unaware of the cause. Here are some useful tips that can help you to avoid snoring while awake problem.

Ø                  Usually, the secretions produced in the throat and airway due to URTI (upper respiratory tract infection). You can resolve the issue by treatment and care. Your physician can recommend proper medication to localize the infection. Once the infection is controlled, the snoring issue will also subside.

Ø                  The allergies also produce secretions and inflammation in throat and nostrils. The control of allergies is bit difficult because of unknown and unspecified origin. However, you can control the sneezing and snore by symptomatic treatment. The consultation by a physician is always mandatory.

Ø                  The DNS (deviated nasal septum) is a treatable issue. The treatment of DNS is surgical. So, you can get rid of snoring within few days.

Ø                  The sleep apnea leaves adverse effects on your physical and mental health. The snoring is one of the signs of this sleep disorder issue. Once the sleep apnea has been diagnosed, it must be cured on the priority basis.

How much sleep do babies need for smooth growth?

The food and sleep are the first tow needs of a baby just after the birth. It will be more likely a correct answer that the baby awakes just for the food. The newborn awakens, takes food and go asleep. In the early stage, the parents face the tougher situation because the baby frequently wakes with short intervals of time. For new parents, it is essential to know about the basic requirement of a newborn baby. They should also know that “how much sleep do babies.” In the early stages, the baby sleeps most of the time, but with the passage of time, the need for sleep is decreased. However, the babies require more sleep than the adults at every stage.

The parents must be aware of the sleeping needs of their kids at any time because the sleep is essential for better nourishment and growth. The majority of the physical and mental health issues are directly related to sleep. If you can observe proper sleep hours, you can prevent the health problems. Keeping in view the importance of sleep, you must know that how much sleep do babies need in 24 hours.

How much sleep do babies – Tips for the new parents

The sleep pattern and duration varies with the age of children. From newborn to the younger stage, the sleep hours vary due to other activities. Usually, the new parents do not know about the diverse needs which may impair the sleep. This article will help you to manage all the activities of your child along without compromising on the sleep time.

Sleep needs of an infant up to 3 months:

The sleep duration of the child is longer than the every stage. The baby wakes to eat only and go asleep just after taking the food. The sleep pattern consists of small intervals of 2-4 hours. This phase is very challenging for the parents because the infant is unable to adjust sleep posture. He needs your help for to correct the sleep position. The ideal posture for baby’s sleep is the supine position.

The existing weather conditions are strange for the newborn baby. Being the parents, you must know how to maintain the suitable environment for your infant. The cold or hot may affect the infant health and sleep. The firm and smooth surface keep the infant comfortable during sleep.

The average sleep hours for babies up to 3 months are 14-17 hours. The parents should note that how much sleep do babies need and their child is completing the average sleep time. During this stage, the daytime sleep intervals are short as compare to night. However, the deviation from the required sleep hours can be alarming. So, parents must observe the sleep and rest hours accordingly.

Sleep needs of the baby from 3-6 month

In this stage, the baby the sleeping hours reduce slightly. The average sleep for the babies from 3-6 month of age is about 14-16 hours per day. The baby starts moving arms and legs which may impair the sleep. The food needs also increase at this stage, but baby can take more food in a single nap. So, he sleeps longer than the previous stage. Usually, the leg and arm movement cause the disturbance in sleep. The firm immobilization of limbs is required for comfortable sleep.

The baby sleeps well during the night and likes to awake, look and smile in the light. The parents should allow their baby to sleep well at night. Preferably, the feeding must be given during daytime. However, if the baby frequently wakes during the night, she may need food.

Sleep needs for a child from 6-12 month

The average sleep duration progressively decreased in this stage. The baby starts walking in this within 12 months. Some physical changes like teething also develop at this stage. The urge for food is also increased which results in the reduction of sleep hours. The baby starts speaking incomplete sentences and tries to convey his needs through words. Your child needs more care at this stage because now he/she can realize the blood relations. He/she knows about moms and dad and want to see them around every time.

In this stage, the baby sleeps from 11-14 hours per day.  However, maintaining this duration is challenging for the parents because she needs the continuous company to their baby. He/she prefer to sleep with mom or dad all the time. To avoid sleep disorders and mental health issues, the child needs proper attention and care at this stage.

Sleep needs for a toddler 1-2 year age

The toddler stage is very active and learning stage with reduced sleeping hours. The baby wants to learn lots of things quickly. The baby prefers playing on sleep. The average sleep hours for this stage are about 11-12 hours. During this stage, the child sleeps well but the putting her in the bed is very effortful for the parents. The child plays whole the day but continues the same activities in the evening. However, the parents need to observe the sleep hours strictly. The evening bath and story time are soothing for the baby and good to make her asleep.

Sleep needs for a child 2-5 year age

In the preschool stage, the children are more prone to develop different types of sleep disorders. The sleep hours varies from child to child because of various factors and living conditions. However, the sleep problems in this stage are almost same for every child. With proper care and supervision, you can overcome the sleep problems of your child.

Sudden awake at any time in the night and night fear are the issues your child may face. The outcome of the stories you told in the previous stage may appear at this stage. Fear of darkness and loneliness are the common issues in the stage. The parents should understand the situation and avoid enforcing the child to sleep in the dark. Arrange for the nightlight to eliminate the fear of dark and loneliness. The average sleep hours for this stage are about 9-10 hours.

Sleep needs for a child 5-12 year age

The last stage before your child becomes a young lot. Hectic and complex stage to observe the sleep hours but the child still needs strict observation and care. Stock of homework, outdoor/indoor games, social schedules, and favorite TV shows make it difficult for the child and parents to observe sleep hours. The child does not want to compromise any of his/her activity. The parents need great care and patience to motivate their child to observe the usual sleep hours.

Conclusion:

The sleep needs of the children vary with the age and living conditions. The parents can only minimize the sleep disorders when they know that how much sleep do babies need. For new parents the task is more difficult but they can prove themselves as the perfect mom/dad by observing the proper sleep hours.

How to prevent sleep problems in children?

Introduction:

Children are more prone to develop sleep disorders because they are innocent and sensitive.  They notice the small things happening in front of them and take the things seriously. So, the chances of developing sleep problems in children are more than the adult. As you know, the children need more sleep hours than the adults. At least nine hours deep sleep is required for a child to nourish and grow smoothly.

The adverse effects of sleep problems in children:

Sleep deficit leaves different types of adverse effects on your baby. The sleep disorders do not only affect the mental health of your child, but it also generates general health problems. The outcomes of sleeping problems in children vary from child to child. Here I have highlighted some common issues your kid may face due to sleep problems.

Ø                  The loss of appetite is the very first effects of sleep disorder in your child. Even, he/she will refuse to eat his/her favorite foods. If your child does not take an interest in food, the reason might be the sleep deficit. So, you must monitor his/her sleep hours.

Ø                  Although, the loss of appetite is the common symptom of sleep problems in children; however, in some cases, overeating has been noted. The child relies more on foods and eats more than the usual. Overeating also leaves adverse effects on the child health. Along with sleeping problems, the child also suffers from frequent diarrhea and indigestion.

Ø                  The second effect of the sleep problems in children is the impairment of general health. You may also note generalized weakness and loss of body weight. The weakness and reduced body weight are the outcome of less food in taking caused by sleep disorders.

Ø                  The sleep deficit also causes behavioral changes in the child. The child does not take interests in games and outdoor activities. The irritating attitude has also been noted in the kids suffering from the sleep deficit.

Ø                  The sleeping problem is children also disturb the studies and school activities. If your child does not sleep well, his/her performance in studies can severely be affected. He will show little or no interest in reading and writing.

Ø                  The main effect of sleep deficit in children is the slow down of reaction and response time. Due to this issue, the child faces lots of problems while walking running and playing. The slow response time increases the rate of accidents and injuries.

Reason for developing sleep problems in children

Most of the ideas for developing sleep disorders in children are associated with the negligence of parents. If you take proper care of your baby, most of the sleep problems can be eliminated. However, still, there are some causes which are unavoidable. Appropriate treatment can be helpful for the restoration of healthy sleep. Here are some common reasons leading to sleep problems in children.

v                 The night mare and sleepwalking are the common causes of sleep disorders in children. The main reason behind the nightmare is to watching horror scenes and to listening horror stories. The child feels fears of going to bed. The sleepwalking is also a serious issue. Usually, the sleepwalking problem occurs in deep sleep phase when baby dreams.

v                 The snoring also causes sleep problems in children. The hearing sense of children is more active than the adults. A little sound near the ears makes the child awake. Therefore, the snoring cause sleep disturbance; however, it happens in rare cases.

v                 ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is one of the most critical sleep problems in children. The ADHD makes it difficult for the child to pay attention to real things. Moreover, the child cannot control impulsive behavior. Although, ADHD is a broad topic the sleep disorder is one of the symptoms associated with this issue.

v                 The room environment is also a factor that may cause sleep problems in children. The noise makes the child awake frequently. Moreover, the uncomfortable bedding also causes disturbance in sleep.

v                 The timing does matter the most in the sleep problems. Usually, the parents do not observe the proper sleep schedule and make the child awake along with them. This irregularity in the timing impact the sleep hours of the child which further cause sleep disorders.

Tips to minimize sleep problems in children

After reading the adverse effects of sleep on the child’s health, it becomes imperative to control the sleep problems. You can control many health issues by maintaining the proper sleep. Here are some useful tips that may help you to improve the child’s sleep.

Ø                  The sleep issues related to nightmare are common among the children of 5 year age. To minimize the nightmares, make the child watch cartoons and fairy tales. Allow the children to read character building story books.

Ø                  Although, the snoring issue is rare for the kids. Usually, the cause is improper sleep posture. Training the baby to lay in the lateral position is helpful to improve sleep. Sleeping in the supine position is the common reason behind snoring.

Ø                  The kids suffering from any disease causing sleep disturbance must be considered as serious. ADHD, insomnia and sleep apnea severely affects the child’s health. If you note any sign of illness, consult the physician without delay.

Ø                  The calm environment and comfortable bedding allow the baby to go asleep very fast. But many parents do not know the standards of quiet environment and comfortable bedding. A 5-year-old child needs at least 9 hours sleep in 24 hours. If your child cannot sleep for 9 hours, you must check for the environment and bedding. Another reason for the disturbance in sleep is night wetting. The use of soak able nappies can be helpful to keep the bedding dry.

Ø                  The room temperature is also very important for good sleep. Make sure that room temperature is ideal for living conditions. Light and illumination also cause the disturbance in the sleep. Before, going to bed put all the room lights off.

Ø                  Observance of bedtime is very supportive to improve the sleep of your child. The child sleeps well during the night as compared to the day. Allow most of the sleeping hours in the night.

Ø                  Keep the television, cell phone, play station, computer and everything else which your baby out of baby’s bedroom.

Ø                  The heavy meals cause high body temperature due to metabolic process. So, avoid heavy meals just before bedtime.

Ø                  The foods containing caffeine cause sleep problems in children when given close to bedtime. However, if necessary, give such foods in the early daytime.