Why do children hold their breath?

Holding breath in children is an abnormal reaction. Children have very poor self-control ability, so if they hold their breath, it is a very abnormal reaction. If it is serious, children holding their breath may suffocate to death. Therefore, adults must keep an eye on their children. If symptoms such as holding breath occur, they should be sent to the hospital in time. Why do children hold their breath? What should we do if our child is holding his breath?

So how can we prevent it?

Because the baby's brain is highly excitable, you should comfort the baby in time when he cries and don't let him cry excessively. In serious cases, patting the back moderately will help.

When a child suddenly holds his breath while crying, it is medically called "breath-holding syndrome" or "apnea", commonly known as "big breath holding". It is a common paroxysmal neurosis in infancy and childhood, mostly occurring within 2 years of age, and the frequency varies.

Breath-holding spells in children are a phenomenon that occurs when the baby is stimulated by emotional stimulation, unmet demands, or physical factors such as pain. At first the baby will cry, and then hold his breath and pause breathing due to hyperventilation. Because there is no oxygen inhalation, carbon dioxide accumulates in the body, and the baby's lips turn from red to blue and finally to purple. At the same time, the limbs become rigid and some babies even experience twitching of their limbs. The whole process can last from a dozen seconds to 2-3 minutes. Then breathing begins again, muscles throughout the body relax, and the body's composure gradually recovers.

Children's brain nerve tissue is not fully developed, and the central nervous function is unstable. Therefore, when a child cries, throws a tantrum or is frightened, the cerebral cortex is temporarily highly excited, and the central control of the cortex will temporarily fail, causing the central nervous function to become disordered, thus producing the above symptoms. However, this condition is not like epilepsy, which is an organic disease of the brain, so its symptoms often only last for about 1 minute before resolving on their own.

Adults don't need to be too anxious if the child is holding his breath. It's just that the child's nerves are not fully developed yet, and holding his breath is just an instinctive physiological reaction. He may be frightened or too excited. In this case, adults should stop it in time because it is dangerous and can happen anytime and anywhere.