WHAT CAUSES SLEEP PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME ? by Gabi Giacomin

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the main cause of sleep disorders in Down Syndrome. OSA is linked to brain injury (lack of oxygen to the brain) and decreased muscle tone and its causes are numerous.

Hypothyroidism is a major contributing factor which should be investigated. Also its underlying causes of iron deficiency, high cortisol and high levels of inflammation. Vitamin D levels should also be assessed. Heavy metal toxicity and bacterial infections also need to be treated as they are not only a cause of OSA but also hypothyroidism. If this all sounds too complicated don’t stress, it’s the job of your Naturopath to do the proper tests to decipher the cause and treat appropriately.

OSA is treatable.

“Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway.Characterized by repetitive episodes of shallow or paused breathing during sleep, despite the effort to breathe, and is usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. Short periods of OSA can be caused by upper respiratory infection. Toddlers and young children with severe OSA can behave as if “over-tired” or “hyperactive.”

Young children, can be thin and may have “failure to thrive”, where growth is reduced. Poor growth occurs for two reasons: the work of breathing is intense enough that calories are burned at high rates even at rest, and the nose and throat are so obstructed that eating is both tasteless and physically uncomfortable. While many parents opt for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy to treat OSA, finding and treating the root cause will preserve an essential part of their immune system, avoid surgery while relieving symptoms and improving sleep.

Current Research suggests that OSA is caused by one or more of these things: –

– hypothyroidism
– iron deficiency
– vitamin D deficiency
– stress/ high cortisol
– inflammation
– insulin resistance
– heavy metals
– Helicobacter Pylori infection
– group A Streptococcus infection
– high methylation of FOXP3 gene

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22077067

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4748291/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19417972

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25107374

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23558409

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792967/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2128620/

http://www.atsjournals.org/…/…/10.1164/ajrccm.158.5.9712069…

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3057899

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Down Syndrome and Sleep Apnea