Children who have breathing problems during sleep may be at risk for impairment in normal growth. This is according to a recent study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, in which researchers analyzed data from 20 studies.

Some 20% of children experience breathing difficulties while asleep, including snoring, mouth breathing, and apnea. It is understood that growth hormone levels naturally peak during periods of deep sleep, and breathing problems are often disruptive of these periods. Therefore, it has been suggested that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may affect a child’s growth. SDB is also associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning problems in children.

One of the main causes of SDB in children is enlarged tonsils or adenoids. The studies looked at the effects of surgical treatment, which is usually curative in this setting, on growth. The analysis showed there were significant increases in both standardized height and weight following surgery, with greater growth rates than expected.

Parents should pay close attention to noisy breathing at night or hyperactivity during the day, as these may be signs of nighttime breathing problems that could potentially stunt their child’s growth.

It is a quintessentially American tradition: gathering with family and friends to feast -- to the point of excess -- and reflect on all for which we can be thankful. And just as much a part of the day as turkey, parades, and football, is the post-meal nap. What is it about the Thanksgiving feast that makes us so sleepy?

The most often-cited culprit is an amino acid, or building block of protein, called tryptophan. This is found in turkey, but it is found in higher concentrations in other foods, including: egg white, cod, soybeans, parmesan and cheddar cheese, pork chops, and (for the adventurous) caribou. One hardly hears of anyone complaining of excessive sleepiness after eating these foods. So what is to blame?

It may be the other things we pile onto our plates and into our goblets. Alcohol certainly can make us sleepy, but it's not the only culprit. It has been demonstrated that meals rich in carbohydrates -- such as potatoes, yams, breads, and countless other Thanksgiving foods -- trigger insulin release. This promotes the uptake by muscle of amino acids other than tryptophan. Lonely and unused trytophan builds up in the blood and is shuttled across the blood-brain barrier where it is converted into a neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, called serotonin. The serotonin is further metabolized into melatonin, which is a hormone with sleep-promoting qualities.

This may partly explain why we get sleepy, but one mustn't overlook that the sheer number of calories the average American will consume is staggering. Depending on the amount and variety of foods consumed, one can easily chow down nearly 3,000 calories! This could supply the energy needs of a young, healthy man for an entire day. For a fun (or terrifying) reality check, calculate the amount of calories you may consume during the feast. It may convince you to cut your portion sizes, or maybe skip the inevitable nap for a nice long walk instead.

What do you think causes you to be sleepy on Thanksgiving? Everyone is invited to participate in the discussion in the forums.

According to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, sleeping fewer than 7 ½ hours per night could increase the risk of heart disease among the elderly.

In a study of 1,255 Japanese patients with hypertension and an average age of 70.4 years, it was found that short sleep duration was associated with a 1.68-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This was especially true if there was also an observed increase in nighttime blood pressure. In subjects who had both short sleep and high nighttime blood pressure, the risk was increased 4.43-fold.

Lack of sleep has been associated with multiple health problems including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Reference

Eguchi K, et al. "Short sleep duration as an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with hypertension". Arch Intern Med 2008; 168(20): 2225-30.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found additional evidence that the low oxygen levels associated with obstructive sleep apnea may be a risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD). These findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s recent meeting.

In a study of 10,701 patients between 1987 and 2003 who had diagnostic sleep studies performed, 142 patients went on to suffer sudden cardiac death. This occurs when the heart’s electrical system fails and is typically deadly unless resuscitation is performed. There were two risk factors identified among the population: obstructive sleep apnea and patients 60 years and older.

One of the researchers, Dr. Virend Somers, commented, “Our data showed that an average nighttime oxygen saturation of the blood of 93 percent and lowest nighttime saturation of 78 percent strongly predicted SCD, independent of other well-established risk factors, such as high cholesterol.” This indicates that low oxygen levels secondary to sleep apnea may be an independent risk factor for SCD.

These levels may be often reached in individuals suffering from moderate and severe sleep apnea. This research again suggests the importance of recognizing and treating sleep apnea to prevent cardiovascular disease and complications such as death.