Snoring Children: Reasons And Remedies
Snoring can be associated with problems such as: obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and other circumstances that may seem more typical of adults. For this reason, many mothers are often concerned when they discover they have children who snore.
When snoring becomes something of a high frequency, worries arise. In these cases, it is customary to go to the pediatrician and once it is proven that a child’s snoring is not normal, then it is necessary to know what is the difference between common snoring and that which may indicate health problems.
Children who snore in an atypical way
In children who snore, the causes can be very varied. Snoring is harmless and transient in most cases. However, depending on the intensity or particularity of the snoring, it can also be the symptom of a serious problem or with the potential to be. The most common reasons (of a biological order) for snoring in children are as follows:
Illnesses
- Cold. The common cold encourages the formation of mucus. Therefore, it can block the airway and cause children to snore during their sleep. Of course, not all children with a cold snore, which is why many parents don’t associate an atypical snoring with a present cold. In this scenario it is commonly denoted with snores every few seconds.
- Asthma. A chronic condition commonly known for its shortness of breath symptoms that come with intense exertion or stress.
- Asthma also makes the airways more hyperactive and sensitive to environmental conditions. Thus, situations such as a cooler temperature in the child’s room while sleeping can cause a slight symptom of obstruction in the airways that is noticed in children who snore.
- Allergies. Dust mites, pet hair, dust and other residues can stimulate, to a greater or lesser degree, the muscles of the throat or airways, which makes them obstruct at night and make breathing difficult, thus causing snoring in children.
- Obesity. Excess weight also affects the neck, this is especially important in the subject of children who snore due to the formation of fat deposits that can form around the neck, which implies a greater effort in this part of the body and, consequently , can cause snoring in children.
- Sleep apnea. It relaxes the muscles in the upper part of the throat, causing them to block the passage of air and causing children to snore. It is often noticed by presenting itself violently from one moment to the next. This happens when the muscles involved in this problem suddenly close.
Other triggers of snoring in children
- Cold susceptible tonsils. Still without asthma, nor without having caught a cold, children’s tonsils are especially sensitive to cold, increasing in size and obstructing the passage of air. With this, it is common that in winter, children can snore while sleeping.
- Smoke and cigarettes. Indoor smoking by one or both parents can, over time, impact your child’s lung development. It is a circumstance that is usually underestimated as the cause of the origin of snoring in children.
However, snoring is not the worst symptom that the child would have due to the smoking habit of others, so when detecting this possibility, it is necessary to take measures in relation to this habit, in order to avoid the development of more serious problems, such as asthma.
Snoring Remedies in Children
Among the home remedies for children who snore there are several infusions, massages or postures. Of course, these are reserved for when the origin of snoring is not pathological, or to contrast it. Other measures that can help are the following:
- Change the child’s room.
- Decrease the temperature of the air conditioner.
- Use anti-allergenic type sheets and pillows.
- Change the child’s position during snoring.
Seeing a doctor will always be the best option when your child’s snoring is persistent and without obvious cause.
When should I worry about my child’s snoring?
We should be concerned when snoring affects children’s daily lives . If bad mood, discomfort (headaches, muscle pain, among others) become chronic and make the child feel bad continuously, the visit to the doctor should not be postponed.
Poor rest and lack of sleep can increase the frequency of snoring. In fact, sleep can become lighter and may be accompanied by sweating, wheezing, among other symptoms. It is necessary to pay attention to this when communicating with the pediatrician.
