Central sleep apnea treatment is a necessity, should be done quickly to ensure that your child remains healthy and continues to breathe freely and smoothly.
Why is Treatment of Central Sleep Apnea Necessary?
Central sleep apnea is a dangerous medical condition wherein the brain of your baby (due to many possible reasons) fails to send the signals to the respiratory muscles (this will prevent their action and prevent the continuous flow of air into the body). This condition is especially dangerous in babies, it can cause serious medical conditions such as heart problems, and change in blood pressure and in certain cases (with severe central sleep apnea) can cause even death.
Thus if your child is suffering from central sleep apnea, you need to get treatment fast.
Central Sleep Apnea Treatment
The treatment for central sleep apnea differs according to the severity of the condition in your child. Based on the severity, your doctor may prescribe the following:
- Baby Monitor: The serious medical conditions of central sleep apnea are caused by a lack of breath for prolonged periods of time. This can be prevented by using a baby monitor which will measure the heart rate and breathing of your child, will sound an alarm when the levels drop below a certain preset level. When the alarm sounds, it requires you to directly intervene to wake your baby to stop the effects of central sleep apnea. While the method is tiring, it may be necessary to keep your child safe.
- Medication: If the severity of central sleep apnea in your child is very high, then your doctor may prescribe medication which will stimulate the part of the brain that controls breathing to force it to send out the signals necessary for breathing in a continuous and timely fashion. But since there may be side effects to drugs, young children are extremely vulnerable; the medication is prescribed as a last resort alone.