Untreated snoring in kids may lead to heart disease: expert

Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock
Is your child’s snoring a sign of sleep disordered breathing

TNN | Aug 26, 2014, 10.51PM IST

Kanpur: Does your kid snore while sleeping at night? If the answer is `yes’, you should immediately consult a doctor, as it can be a symptom of sleep breathing disorder, a more serious underlying problem that can affect your child’s physical and mental well-being, an expert revealed during the third day of IMA CGP.

Dr JC Suri from New Delhi, said that sleep breathing disorder is most common among kids between 2-18 years of age. “This problem is seen in about 5% of children between this age group. The biggest reason being excessive growth of tonsils and adenoid in the back of the throat. Major symptoms of the disease include snoring, irregular sleep, increased aggressiveness, change in attitude etc.

Children who are chronically sleep deprived may be prone to problems with attention behavior, learning and mood. If not treated on time the disorder can take shape of chronic heart disease. With the advancement of science today we have developed ways to cure the disease without operating the child,” the doctor said.