Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, VA
Wetting the bed is just part of life for young children and their parents. If this behavior extends past the age of five, though, it is known as nocturnal enuresis. Bedwetting may be a sign of another, more serious issue, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Keep reading as, today on the blog, we explore the link between bedwetting and sleep apnea.
Bedwetting and its ramifications
The University of Michigan estimates that 5-7 million children in America deal with nocturnal enuresis at any one time. Children who suffer from this condition are likely to experience additional stress and even anxiety. They may even have panic attacks. This is why it is important to communicate with your child about this problem. Ask your child if anything is upsetting them, in case a separate emotional or psychological problem is contributing to this condition.
Other guidance for parents includes:
- Do not punish your child for wetting the bed
- Encouraging your child to use the bathroom as close as possible to their bedtime to avoid accidents during the night
- Avoid foods and drinks that may produce the urine or aggravate the bladder.
The connection between sleep apnea and bedwetting
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious sleep breathing disorder that can impact patients of any age, including children. For someone who suffers from this disorder, they experience blockages of the airway when they sleep. These blockages may be partial or complete, and often totally cut off airflow. Living with untreated sleep apnea has a host of effects on your life and health. One of these consequences is that anytime the airway becomes blocked – known as an apneic event – this releases a hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide, otherwise referred to as ANP, which increases urine production.
Bedwetting and sleep apnea share one other key trait in common: they both disrupt your sleep. When an apneic event happens, oxygen levels in the body diminish to the point that the brain signals the body to resume normal breathing. You may never wake up when this happens, but this signal from the brain does bring you out of the sleep cycle. Bedwetting, by contrast, is likely not only to wake up your child but will keep them awake for some time while cleaning up the accident. A child who wets the bed also may have problems going back to sleep.
Treating pediatric sleep apnea in Burke, Virginia
Loud snoring on a regular basis is the major warning sign of sleep apnea. If you notice your child audibly snoring, then you should schedule an airway evaluation. Dr. Pamela Marzban can conduct an airway evaluation and also provide you with a WatchPAT ™ device, which allows the accumulation of the data for a sleep study from the comfort of your home. The information from the sleep study can be referred to a sleep specialist, who can make an official diagnosis of sleep apnea. From there, return to the office of Pamela Marzban, DDS, for treatment, which may entail the prescription of an oral appliance or a course of myofunctional therapy.
Schedule an appointment for your child today at our office in Burke. Just call (703) 323-8200 or contact us online.
