{"id":3570,"date":"2025-06-02T16:54:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T16:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beckdentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=3570"},"modified":"2025-08-01T16:56:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T16:56:27","slug":"secondhand-smoke-sleep-apnea-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beckdentalcare.com\/blog\/secondhand-smoke-sleep-apnea-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Topic, New Concerns: Secondhand Smoke and Sleep Apnea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The idea of secondhand smoke isn\u2019t exactly new. Since the 1970\u2019s, scientists have been confident that simply inhaling the vapor produced by nearby smokers can have negative effects on someone\u2019s health. But research is never truly complete, and recent studies have linked secondhand inhalation to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea<\/a> (OSA) in kids between the ages of 3 and 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, this discovery has brought an age-old topic back to life! To learn more about what the research says, keep reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is OSA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OSA is essentially a sleep condition. Patients that struggle with it typically have inflamed or overrelaxed oral tissue that blocks their airway when they lay down. This makes it harder for their body to get enough oxygen, to the point where their brain jolts them awake and interrupts their sleep cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because they\u2019re not able to reach full REM sleep, patients with OSA experience increased fatigue, and are at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, and other serious health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondhand Smoke and OSA in Young People<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since children and young adults are still developing in many ways, it\u2019s reasonable to assume they\u2019d be more sensitive to harmful toxins in the air. Indeed, researchers found that kids between the ages of 3 and 18 who were exposed to secondhand smoke were not only more likely to develop<\/em> OSA, but also more likely to experience more severe symptoms.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you smoke, it\u2019s a good idea to restrict your tobacco usage to times when children and teens aren\u2019t around. Plus, it\u2019s simply a common courtesy to limit secondhand smoke inhalation! Changing your habits might not be easy, but it\u2019s worth making an effort to protect other people\u2019s health and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OSA Symptoms in Children and Teens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that OSA can present itself a bit differently in kids than it does in adults. Here are some signs that your young loved one might need a sleep test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n