Apnea, short pauses in breathing patterns, is normal but can be dangerous if breathing stops for 20 seconds or more. There are three types: obstructive, central, and mixed. Children may need surgery or a CPAP mask, while adults may require a sleep study or medication.
Most people experience short pauses in their breathing patterns. These pauses are known as apnea. Typically considered normal, these pauses in breathing occur mostly during sleep, causing the sleeper to awaken from the breathing disturbance.
Apnea can present itself in the form of reduced breathing or stopped breathing altogether. There are three main types of the condition. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when something physically blocks the airways. Blockages can occur due to any number of conditions, from enlarged adenoids to tonsils.
Obstructive respiratory pauses are common in children. Up to three in 100 preschoolers may feel this while they sleep, while the soft tissue in the throat is more comfortable. Symptoms may include color changes, snoring, restlessness, and continued sleepiness or tiredness throughout the day. To treat this condition in children, surgery on the tonsils or adenoids may be needed. Alternatively, children can be given a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, mask to wear while they sleep.
Even very premature babies can commonly stop breathing without warning. This is known as central apnea and occurs when the brain does not initiate or maintain normal breathing on its own. Due to the immaturity of the respiratory center in the brain, this is usually managed with some type of oxygen treatment, such as full intubation or a CPAP. Ongoing care and observation through a nursery intensive care unit, or NICU, is also typically required.
Mixed apnea, a hybrid of obstructive and central respiratory pauses, occurs primarily in children and infants. The cause of this condition is usually attributed to the baby’s lack of control when breathing. This type of breathing pause can occur while you are awake or awake.
While brief interruptions in breathing may be normal, the condition can also be dangerous in adults. If breathing stops for 20 seconds or more, it’s considered a health problem. People who stop breathing completely for long periods of time may need a sleep study to evaluate their condition. Remedies for such breathing problems usually include the same methods used for children with obstructive breathing problems. Medicines for respiratory ailments may also be given.
The origins of the word freediving are Greek. Translated, they mean “without wind”. Other causes include drug-induced states, trauma, neurological disease, breath holding, or mechanical induction through suffocation or strangulation. People experiencing severe airway restrictions should be taken to a doctor immediately.
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