SIDS: The Silent Killer That Can Claim Any Infant

Sudden infant death syndrome is still a mysterious condition. Two thousand five hundred infants die suddenly and inexplicably in their sleep each year in the United States. These infants, who die from SIDS, are healthy and exhibit no symptoms. There is still no known reason why SIDS occurs. When an infant passes on and there is no cause of death found, they are diagnosed as passing on from SIDS.

A combination of risk factors may raise an infant's risk of SIDS. There are not many preventive measures; you can reduce the risk of an infant passing on from SIDS by putting he infant on his or her back to sleep, never on his or her stomach or side.

Some risk factors for mothers may include being a teenage mother, using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs while pregnant, and not taking care of themselves during pregnancy. Some risk factors for the infant include being over heated from sleepwear or bedding, low birth weight or being born prematurely, and being exposed to second hand smoke after birth.

Arcuate nucleus, a part of the brain that may help control breathing and awakening during sleep, may malfunction in an infant. This may happen when the baby begins breathing stale air and is not getting enough oxygen. This is supposed to trigger the baby to wake up and cry. By the infant doing this, this movement changes the breathing and heart rate, making up for the lack of oxygen the baby had. When this does not happen then it's possible the baby may succumb to SIDS.

Most deaths in infants due to SIDS occur between the age of two and four months, which increases during cold weather. Infants of the African-American race are twice as likely to die of SIDS. Native American infants are three times more likely to die from SIDS than Caucasian infants. There is a higher rate in boys who fall victim to SIDS than girls.

If you are a woman with an infant under the age of one year, it is best you follow the above risk factors. This is a risk factor that I would suggest mothers take advantage of and think about the truth behind it. All mothers at one time in their lives have waked up in the morning, not being able to breathe through their nose. This happens especially in cold winter months. In winter when people have their heat on it dries the air, therefore drying up the mucous in the nose and making it hard to breathe. I believe when an infant's mucous dries up in their nose, it makes it hard for them to breathe. They then forget to breathe through their mouth, therefore passing on in their sleep. During the cold months to keep the air inside moist, run a humidifier in the area the baby is sleeping. This will keep the mucous moist in their nose allowing them to breathe easier.

Some of these may be ways or causes of SIDS. Sometimes there isn't a reason for it and the baby will end up dying in their sleep. It's important to keep regular checks on your infant, feeling to see if they are breathing correctly. Checking your infant regularly will help lower the risk of SIDS.