Backpacks, supply lists, new shoes, earlier alarms. As August winds down, families across Littleton are checking items off the back-to-school list. One thing that rarely makes that list – but probably should – is sleep.
School-age kids need about 9 to 12 hours a night. Teens need 8 to 10. But hitting those numbers only helps if the sleep itself is restful. And for a lot of kids (and plenty of adults), the thing standing in the way isn’t bedtime. It’s breathing.
When the nose can’t do its job.
The nose is designed to filter, warm, and humidify every breath. When it’s blocked, the body works around it – usually by switching to the mouth. Common culprits include a deviated septum,
swollen turbinates, chronic congestion, nasal inflammation from late-summer pollen, and enlarged adenoids or tonsils.
Colorado adds its own layer. Ragweed and grass pollen peak in late summer, and our dry air can leave nasal passages irritated and swollen even without allergies in the picture.
Snoring and mouth breathing aren’t just quirks.
A little snoring after a cold is normal. Nightly snoring is worth a closer look. Signs that your child’s sleep is being disrupted:
- Loud, regular snoring
- Pauses in breathing, gasping, or choking sounds
- Sleeping with the mouth open; dry lips in the morning
- Restless sleep, tossing, or odd sleeping positions
- Bedwetting after being reliably dry
- Morning headaches
- Irritability, moodiness, or trouble focusing
That last one catches families off guard. Poorly rested kids often don’t look sleepy – they look distracted or hyper. Attention and behavior concerns that surface in the first weeks of school sometimes trace back to what’s happening at 2 a.m.
Parents, this applies to you too.
Adult sleep suffers for many of the same reasons. If you’re waking up tired, relying on a decongestant to get through the night, or your partner has started sleeping in another room, that’s your nose asking for attention. Untreated snoring and disrupted breathing can affect blood pressure, mood, and daytime energy over time.
The ENTOne Difference can help.
At ENTOne, an evaluation starts with a straightforward look at the nasal airway, tonsils, and adenoids, plus a conversation about what sleep actually looks like at your house. From there, options may include:
- Testing and treatment for nasal allergy symptoms
- Medical management of chronic congestion and inflammation
- In-office procedures such as balloon sinuplasty or turbinate reduction
- Septoplasty to correct a deviated septum
- Tonsil and adenoid evaluation for children
- Coordination of a sleep study when it’s warranted
Many patients are surprised by how much can be addressed without a hospital visit – and how quickly better breathing translates into better mornings.
Start the year rested.
The first few weeks of school set the tone for everything that follows. If someone in your house is snoring through the night, breathing through their mouth, or waking up tired no matter how early they go to bed, it’s worth finding out why.
We’re your neighbors here in Littleton, and we’d love to help your family start the school year well-rested.
Call ENTOne at (720) 507-0080 or reach out to us at ENTOne.com.
Disclaimer: This is general information and not a substitute for professional medical advice. All advice and suggestions offered via the website or newsletters should be discussed with a physician before implementation. Always consult a physician for specific guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions. SurgOne, PC, and ENTOne PC are not liable for any adverse reactions that may occur from implementing the advice or suggestions that appear here.
