After establishing Texas Medical Association policy in support of that effort, TMA’s Women Physicians Section (WPS) also backed recent American Medical Association action, encouraging education and physician support.
Poor sleep quality leaves patients, including children, tired during the day, exacerbating mental health issues. Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to a range of health problems, including cardiovascular issues. Sleep problems during pregnancy can have complications for both patient and fetus, with research is ongoing to determine exact risks.
“The thing to stress is primary prevention, keeping eyes open for [sleep problems],” said Emily Briggs, MD, a family physician in New Braunfels. “We don’t know to screen if we don’t think about it, and that’s big in the primary care world, to always be thinking about these things.”
About 44% of U.S. children do not consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for their age, according to the 2026 Sleep in America Poll organized by the National Sleep Foundation. Parents often underestimate how much sleep their child needs, even though 86% of parents report that good sleep improves their child’s behavior and mood.
Preschool-age children need 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day, including naps. Elementary school kids need 9 to 12 hours, and teens need 8 to 10, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Screening questionnaires and sleep studies can be effective ways to diagnose and treat sleep apnea, said Dr. Briggs, former chair of the WPS. But more research is needed, hence the TMA and AMA push for screening and education.
Dr. Briggs said the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is studying the issue because sleep apnea may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and worsen outcomes for any chronic disease, especially cardiac problems. Hypertension issues can crop up and become harder to manage.
Sleep issues can also affect someone during the day, making them less productive and contributing to behavioral or mental health issues. Among adolescents, learning, problem solving, decision making, and sustained attention are brain developmental processes affected by insufficient sleep according to a study published by the Journal of Adolescent Health.
“Sometimes anatomic features can clue you in to the risk for obstructive sleep apnea, such as large tonsils, chronic nasal congestion, obesity, and certain syndromes like Trisomy 21,” said Lisa Barber, MD, an Austin pulmonologist and sleep specialist with Dell Children’s Medical Center.
If a physician has concerns about obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Barber recommends a consulting a sleep center or pediatric sleep lab in their area to possibly order a sleep study directly. That saves the family time instead of being referred somewhere else first.
“Sleep is a huge, huge point of concern for all parents,” Dr. Barber said. “If your kid isn’t sleeping, you’re not sleeping.”
To read more about the TMA Women Physicians Section’s ongoing work, please visit the WPS page online.