Our sleeping problems...perchance to dream

It seems like more people have trouble sleeping these days than ever before..

I know the BBC radio is always running these interviews with a " sleep doctor," who gives advice to people who call in....

Let me see what is new on the net about this--well, most recent articles say problem is growing fastest with children and teens...

Sleep disorders among kids and teens on the rise

Four-year-old Zane Adams is getting sleepy looking at a book while preparing for bedtime with his parents J.J. and Kimberly Adams and 1-year-old sister Zoe in their Edgewater home. Kimberly Adams believes having the family on a strict bedtime schedule has made a difference in their kids' behavior.
News-Journal/NIGEL COOK

By Lacey McLaughlin
STAFF WRITER

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 2:58 p.m.

When it came to her son's sleeping habits Sherrie Sharlow considered herself lucky. It was common for her 1-year-old son Ethan Cain to sleep for a solid 12 hours, providing a respite for his parents.

Facts

Sleep Tips for Children and Infants


Babies up to 1 year old should always be placed on their backs on a firm surface to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
- Establish a routine by setting your child's bedtime at the same time each night and doing similar activities before bed.
- All children and adolescents who snore regularly should be tested for sleep apnea. Additional symptoms can include labored breathing during sleep, gasps, snorts or pauses in breath.
- Create a technology curfew by requiring children to hand over devices such as laptops, tablets, cellphones and turning off television before bedtime.

SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics

But despite the child's long slumbers, he was always tired. Sharlow, 44, also noticed that her son would gasp for air while sleeping and would frequently snore. A doctor confirmed Ethan Cain had obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing slows or decreases during sleep due to a narrow or blocked airway.

"He was such a good baby," the Port Orange resident recalled. "He would just fall asleep on me or we'd be out and the next thing I knew, he was sleeping. Everyone said I was so lucky, but the whole while sleep was doing damage to my child and I had no idea."

Like the majority of children diagnosed with sleep apnea, Ethan Cain had surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. Sharlow said her son, now 9, is able to sleep throughout the night and she's seen an improvement in his behavior and mood.

Sleep disorders affect 20 to 25 percent of children and adolescents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. While childhood obesity is a contributing factor to disorders like sleep apnea, sleepless nights also appear to be intensified by modern life's hectic schedules and dependence on technology, said Dr. Mary Wagner, director of the pediatric sleep lab at the University of Florida.

"Sometimes there are other disruptions that are causing kids to stay up late," Wagner said. "Maybe they are on their phones or texting. Because there is so much fun stuff do to 24/7, sometimes it's hard to get in bed, turn the lights off and go to sleep."

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