A patient with Down syndrome has upper airway abnormalities that place him at risk for sleep disordered breathing, including sleep apnea.
When I say "abnormalities", I'm talking about:
small mid face, with low-set cheekbones
broad skull
small jaw
small larynx
narrow nasal passages
narrow palate
large tongue compared to the size of the mouth
narrow throat
enlarged tonsils and adenoids
No wonder that these abnormalities are usually found in down syndrome and sleep apnea. All these physical issues predispose the people with down's syndrome to obstructive apnea and obesity.
This video shows the Grace, a beautiful little girl with Down's Syndrome, and her family. You know..as my personal opinion...I think if I ever see my child so beautiful but with Down, I will be very sad at first. Will I find the strenght to think positive in this situation?
Symptoms
It's obvious that all the characteristic symptoms for Down's syndrome (small head or nose, a short neck, an enlarged tongue) increases the risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea.
In addition to sleep apnea, patients may present mental handicaps, central apnea symptoms, hypoventilation and hypoxemia.
People with Down's syndrome also have general floppiness of the muscles and tend to be less active. So, they put on weight very easily, which can predispose them to weight gain and breathing problems at night.
Causes
Down's syndrome is the most common genetic disorder associated with craniofacial abnormalities. This disorder is caused, in most cases, by an extra chromosome at the 21 position.
If you are a woman, pay attention to what age do you plan a baby. Why? Because incidence of this syndrome increases with advanced maternal age.
Treatments
Unfortunately, Down's syndrome is not a condition that can be cured. But there are some treatments that may help many people with Down's syndrome live with a better quality of life. Here are the most common treatments:
early interventions - this is a program of treatment, physical therapy and speech therapy that can help Down's syndrome babies and children to improve their life
surgical treatments - such as upper airway surgery (adenotonsillectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, tongue reduction or maxillary advancement)
medical treatments - especially for health problems faced by patients with Down's syndrome, such as: heart issues, hearing and vision problems
CPAP theraphy - for patients with downs syndrome and sleep apnea.
People who live with Down syndrome babies or adults, often accept their abnormal sleep patterns and do little about it. However, this can result in long-term harm to this persons health.
Bottom line...if you witness abnormal behavior during sleep, it's important to speak with the doctor or specialist in the care of the person with Down's syndrome.
