What does A&B mean in MEDICAL

Apnea is a condition where breathing stops for at least 20 seconds or longer during sleep or while awake. It can be caused by floppy larynx tissue, obstruction of the airway, or poor respiratory control. Babies with apnea often have other underlying health problems such as cardiac defects or infection.

Bradycardia is a condition characterized by an abnormally slow heart rate usually lower than 60 beats per minute in babies younger than one month of age and lower than 80 beats per minute in older infants. This can be caused by infection, medication side effects, metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism, or congenital heart defects.

Apnea may be suspected if your newborn pauses her breathing during sleep for more than 20 seconds multiple times during a night. To confirm the diagnosis your doctor may order an overnight polysomnography which measures several body functions including breathing patterns and oxygen levels in the blood.

The treatment for bradycardia depends on its cause and severity, but may include medications such as atropine or epinephrine to help increase heart rate, implantation of a pacemaker to regulate heart rate, and lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine or changing feeding schedules. In some cases surgery may also be necessary to correct any underlying structural issues causing the condition.

Yes, both apnea and Bradycardia can cause long-term complications depending on their severity and how long they go untreated before diagnosis. In babies with apnea brain damage due to oxygen deprivation can occur if left untreated while bradycardia can lead to arrhythmias and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).