How breathing and sleep affects children's development

Despite all the advancements in medicine, sleep is still quite a mysterious process. We do know however, the consequences of not enough sleep, more specifically; lack of good quality sleep can lead to serious health issues.

To breathe well is the most important aspect to getting a good night’s sleep. Good breathing leads to good oxygenation of the blood resulting in a steady heart rate and reduced stress hormones. The best breathing occurs through the nose. When we wake up, we feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

When we sleep we move through four stages 2-3 times during the night. It is only when we reach stage 4 or the deepest sleep that we begin to dream and exhibit rapid eye movement (REM). If we do not pass through these stages, we awake the next morning feeling tired, fatigued and irritable. Successive nights of this can lead to more serious complications.

· Stage 1: The eyes are closed during Stage 1 sleep. One can be awakened without difficulty if aroused from this stage of sleep, feeling like they have not slept. Stage 1 may last for five to 10 minutes. Many may notice the feeling of falling during this stage of sleep, which may cause a sudden muscle contraction (called hypnic myoclonia).

· Stage 2: This is a period of light sleep. The heart rate slows and the body temperature decreases. At this point, the body prepares to enter deep sleep.

· Stages 3 and 4: These are deep sleep stages. If aroused from sleep during these stages, a person may feel disoriented for a few minutes. Often in stage 4 we experience REM. It is during theses stages that the brain forms new connections and re-enforces new memories.

Breathing and sleep

If breathing becomes a problem during sleep, we rarely pass through the 4 stages and therefore our sleep will be of poor quality. How often,when we have a cold do we also have a good night’s sleep? With a blocked nose, it is a strain to breath well. We often wake up multiple times during the night having trouble breathing. This prevent us from moving through the 4 stages of sleep.

If we have enlarged tonsils or adenoids, this can also block the airways. Quite often we see this problem in children. In fact if your child snores, the tonsils and adenoids need to be checked. Snoring can occur in up to 30% of children.

If children have difficulty breathing through the nose when sleeping, they will start breathing through the mouth. This can result in a shift in the natural development of the mouth and face.

The faces of mouth breathing kids develop in a very specific way. The tongue, which naturally sits under the roof of the mouth falls down into the lower jaw as the mouth opens to breath. Years of doing this causes the face to grow downwards

In addition, we often see developmental problems with the arrangement of their teeth. Because the tongue sits away from the roof of the mouth, it no longer has any influence on its shape. This causes the roof of the mouth to remain under-developed compared to the lower jaw.

Children who have difficulty breathing through the nose often wake up multiple times during the night. This means they stay within stages 1 and 2 of sleep and rarely reach stages 3 and 4. Paradoxically, during the day, these children are quite hyperactive because through the night, the hormone adrenaline is released. They have difficulty concentrating and cannot sit still for too long during the day.

Listen for the signs

We see the early signs of breathing problems in children (and adults who snore). If you have a loved one who has difficulty breathing while asleep, speak to your doctor or let us know if you are concerned. Listen for snoring or noisy sleep. Children often grind their teeth when they have blocked airways or are having trouble breathing.

Don't ignore the early signs

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