{"id":258,"date":"2019-01-24T15:38:41","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T15:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.weatherfordsleep.com\/blog\/?p=258"},"modified":"2019-01-24T15:38:43","modified_gmt":"2019-01-24T15:38:43","slug":"the-connection-between-a-narrow-airway-and-sleep-apnea-in-weatherford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weatherfordsleep.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/24\/the-connection-between-a-narrow-airway-and-sleep-apnea-in-weatherford\/","title":{"rendered":"The Connection Between a Narrow Airway and Sleep Apnea in Weatherford"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sleep apnea in Weatherford is a condition that affects over\n22 million people in the U.S. It not only deprives them of a \u201cgood night\u2019s sleep,\u201d\nbut it can also leave them more susceptible to life-threatening illnesses. The\ncondition doesn\u2019t just affect adults, though, as studies show that more than 7\nmillion children suffer from sleep apnea.<\/a>\nRead on to learn how a narrow airway can exacerbate the condition in children and\nwhy it is important to seek treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is the repeated lapse in breathing that occurs throughout\nthe sleep cycle, which triggers the brain to send distress signals to cause the\nperson to awaken. As a result, the healing and rejuvenating properties of sleep\nare negated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep\napnea (OSA), which refers to a partial blockage of the airway. A typical sign\nof this condition is loud snoring caused by the limited space for air to pass\nthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How a Narrow Airway Contributes to OSA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For some children, the symptoms of OSA can be magnified by them\nhaving a narrow airway. While the normal opening is around 7 millimeters (mm), for\nchildren who have an abnormal airway, the opening can be as small as 1 mm,\nallowing as little as 15% of the normal flow of oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of having a compromised airway, the children will\nnaturally shift to mouth-breathing, but this can also be problematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Issues with Mouth-Breathing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following lists some of the problems with breathing through\nthe mouth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n