Featuring Sally Ward, Head of the devision of pediatric pulmonology, medical directory of the sleep laboratory at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

• Sleep is just as important as a healthy diet to children
• Poor night sleep can lead to bad grades, having a harder time in class

Misdiagnosis of sleep-related disorders

(2:30)

• How to diagnose a child's sleep disorder
• Asking questions to diagnose the sleep-related issue: sleep patterns, complaints (snoring, etc.)

Non-behavoiral sleep disorders

• Destructive sleep apnea - Obesity is the largest contributor, often effects children's education. Destructive sleep apnea is treatable.

Leading causes of sleep disorders in children

• Craniofacial adnormalodies
• Down syndrome (chromosonal adnormalodies)
• Children with large tonsils, adenoids
• Asthma
• Obesity (can lead to asthma)
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Hypoxia

Advice to families that are expecting a baby

(6:00)

• Have children initiate sleep in the correct environment.
• Review common sudden-infint-death syndrome causes.

Overweight children...

• Have more pressure on their air-ways and chest from additional fat, which can lead to sleep apnea.
• Are more likely to have asthma, which can cause coughing in the middle of their sleep.
• Sleep less due to obesity/apnea, which may lead to being less sated when eating due to sporadic leptin levels.

How sleep effects hormones and neurotransmitters

(9:00)

What impact does obesity/apnea have on a child's physiology?

(10:00)

• Effects mood at home and school
• Sleepier than peers making it hard to interact with others
• At risk for hypertension later in life
• At higher risk for Diabetes

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