Breathing disorder symptoms
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Breathing Disorder Symptoms: An Overview
Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adolescents
Common Symptoms and Misdiagnosis
Dysfunctional breathing (DB) in children and adolescents encompasses a range of abnormal breathing patterns, including hyperventilation syndrome, vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), habit cough, and sighing dyspnoea. Symptoms of DB include hyperventilation, breathlessness, chest tightness, chest pain, anxiety, light-headedness, and fatigue. These symptoms can often be misdiagnosed as asthma, leading to unnecessary medication and a significant burden of morbidity.
Emotional and Physical Impact
DB can also manifest in symptoms such as unsteadiness, exercise intolerance, frequent sighing, and predominantly non-diaphragmatic respiratory efforts. Emotional factors, such as a history of trauma, can exacerbate DB, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in Various Populations
Symptoms in Adults
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) affects 2% to 4% of the adult population and includes conditions like sleep apnea, characterized by complete cessation of breathing (apnea) or significant reductions in airflow (hypopnea) during sleep. Common symptoms include snoring, restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal enuresis, irritability, depression, memory deficits, and decreased alertness. These symptoms can lead to impaired work efficiency, increased automobile accident rates, and a reduced quality of life.
Symptoms in Children
In children, SDB is often associated with developmental anomalies, craniofacial malformations, and syndromes that lead to airway narrowing and adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Nighttime symptoms include shortness of breath, night sweats, sleep irregularities, and snoring, while daytime symptoms encompass lack of performance, moodiness, and hyperactivity. These symptoms can result in malocclusion and altered facial development, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms in the Elderly
Among the elderly, SDB is prevalent, with 24% having an apnea index (AI) of 5 or more and 62% having a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 10 or more. Symptoms include snoring, breathing cessation at night, nocturnal wandering or confusion, daytime sleepiness, and depression. Factors such as high body mass index (BMI), male gender, and napping are significant predictors of SDB in this population.
Emotional and Cognitive Consequences
Impact on Children
SDB symptoms in children are linked to emotional problems and poor school performance. A study involving Chinese children found that SDB symptoms increased the risks for depression, loneliness, and poor academic performance, with daytime sleepiness mediating these relationships. This underscores the importance of early screening and intervention to support children's behavioral and cognitive development.
Quality of Life in Adults
In adults, SDB significantly impacts quality of life, with symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness and mood disturbances affecting daily functioning. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment has been shown to reduce sleepiness and improve mood, neurocognition, and performance. However, traditional measurements of sleep apnea severity do not always correlate well with current tests and scales used to quantify these alterations.
Conclusion
Breathing disorders, whether dysfunctional breathing or sleep-disordered breathing, present a wide array of symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life across different age groups. Early and accurate diagnosis, coupled with appropriate treatment, is crucial in managing these conditions and mitigating their physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences. Understanding the diverse manifestations of these disorders can aid in better clinical management and improve patient outcomes.
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