Question 1

When does bed-wetting typically end in children?

Accepted Answer

Prevalence varies according to age. Ten percent of 7-year-old children still have bed-wetting incidents. Two to three percent of 12-year-old children still have bed-wetting.

Question 2

What is the most important thing to do if my child is sleepwalking?

Accepted Answer

Securing the home, windows and doors, is the most important task parents should do to protect a child that is sleepwalking.

Question 3

Do all children that snore need a sleep study?

Accepted Answer

Snoring is an indication of resistance of airflow through the upper airway but may not necessitate a sleep study. Unfortunately, despite a thorough history and physical exam, we are not able to completely predict the degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) a patient may have, therefore sleep study is the most comprehensive way to rule out OSA.

Question 4

Does Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) run in families?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  We often see multiple members of the family that have RLS at the Perry Center for Pediatric & Adult Sleep Care.

Question 5

Can you have OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) even if you are not overweight?

Accepted Answer

Yes, though obesity a significant contributor to OSA, even patients who are not overweight can have a predisposing bony structure of the face and jaw that can lead to OSA.

Question 6

Can talking in your sleep be normal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sleep talking can be normal and simply a manifestation of a short arousal out of sleep. If sleep talking is excessive, this can be an indicator that perhaps another underlying sleep disorder is contributing to these arousals.

Question 7

Is it normal for my child to always end up in my bed at night?

Accepted Answer

A child’s initial bedtime routine at the start of the night, if it requires parental presence to fall asleep, will determine the child’s need to repeat that same routine in the middle of the night. Addressing this initial bedtime routine is key to stopping children from seeking parents in the middle of the night.

Question 8

Why is it important to address an adolescent’s poor sleep hygiene and insufficient sleep?

Accepted Answer

With early school start times the risk of automobile accidents on the way to school are very real. Adolescents who are not well rested may struggle academically or with emotion management. Ultimately, learning to maintain healthy sleep/wake schedules leads to better quality of life during and after school.

Question 9

What is light therapy and how can it improve sleep?

Accepted Answer

Our biological clocks are the most sensitive to light whether it be sunlight or artificial light. Lights from electronic device screens can shift our biological clocks can shift our clocks to fall asleep later and conversely bright light in the morning can shift our clocks backwards helping us fall asleep sooner. One form of treatment includes use of a light-box.

Question 10

What is sleep paralysis?

Accepted Answer

Sleep paralysis is just like it sounds—while asleep or waking up out to sleep you are fully conscious but cannot move. It can be extremely frightening for the individual. Sleep paralysis is directly related to falling asleep or waking up out of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Sleep that has paralysis is part of that sleep stage. You can experience sleep paralysis by simply not getting enough sleep.  Sleep paralysis can also be part of the set of symptoms associated with Narcolepsy.

Question 11

What causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Accepted Answer

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is typically thought of as a mechanical blockage in the back of the throat which can be at the level of the soft palate or tongue during sleep. OSA is much more complicated than this and includes the patient’s overall airway muscle tone; the patient’s response to arousals; and the patient’s response to carbon dioxide called “loop gain.”

Question 12

What’s the difference between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)?

Accepted Answer

OSA is just like it sounds—an obstruction in the airway while the patient attempts to continue to breath despite that obstruction. CSA is different in that the patient’s brain does not send a message to breath so there is just a pause in breathing. Common causes of CSA include Congestive Heart Failure, opioid usage, traveling to high altitudes.

Question 13

What is “Overlap Syndrome?”

Accepted Answer

This is a syndrome that includes both Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea or both.

Question 14

How does Obstructive Sleep Apnea impact my other health problems?

Accepted Answer

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, elevated blood sugars, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and strokes.

Question 15

What is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?

Accepted Answer

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) typically presents in the evening/night with an uncomfortable “urge” to move your legs. Movement will bring momentary relief but the symptoms then return leading to an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Optimizing ones’ ferritin levels (the body’s form of stored iron) can lead to significant resolution of symptoms.

FAQ