Take a Breath
Breath-holding spells-when a child involuntarily pauses his breathing to the point of unconsciousness can be scary for parents, but don't panic. The spells, which can occur in children ages 6 months to 6 years, are normal, and showing your excessive anxiety may increase their frequency, says Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, M.D., developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Texas Children's in Houston. Knowing what's going on can help you stay calm.
The spells usually occur when a child is upset. Frustration, pain, fear, and shock can all be triggers. The reaction causes a reflex that temporarily slows down your child's heart rate and breathing, causing breath-holding along with symptoms that include fainting, seizure-like movements such as body stiffness and spasms, and changes in skin and lip color that vary from very pale to shades of blue and purple.
They generally last less than a minute. If your child holds his breath, lay him on his side to prevent a fall. If he passes out and doesn't start breathing immediately, perform CPR and call 911.
They do not cause brain damage. But because some kids are more prone to breath-holding spells due to conditions such as iron-deficiency anemia, ask your doctor to do an evaluation, including a blood test, after the first spell.
You can prevent them. Curbing tantrums, for one thing, can reduce the reflex that leads to breath-holding. If your child has more that one spell a day, talk to a child psychologist about ways to manage behavior.
Posted by: Georgie
Credit: Parents Magazine
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