We’ve said it before: an estimated 25 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea. These are cases that are diagnosed, but a study in 2018 went further, estimating that one billion people suffer from sleep apnea worldwide. Knowing the most common sleep apnea risk factors is crucial for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan – and it could save your life.
1. Obesity
Obesity is arguably the most prevalent risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. For some, extra weight means fatty deposits around the airway. For others, disrupted sleep means hormonal changes that can change a person’s appetite regulation.
Complicating the fact that carrying extra weight changes the anatomy of the airway, having obstructive sleep apnea can also contribute to weight gain.
2. Family history
A family history of sleep apnea does not mean that there is a direct gene linking this condition across the branches of your family tree. Instead, certain hereditary factors like anatomy may create conditions for sleep apnea to arise (more below).
Researchers have discovered and are beginning to investigate what they refer to as a genetic susceptibility to sleep apnea. This may give better insight into just how (and why) sleep apnea is passed down through generations.
3. Anatomy of the airway
If a person has other sleep apnea risk factors and also has a narrow airway, they are at an increased risk of developing sleep-disordered breathing.
4. Structure of the lower jaw
Another anatomical feature that can predispose a person to sleep apnea is a smaller lower jaw. A narrow lower jaw means that the airway is also smaller and narrower.
It can be tempting to think that children, with their tiny jaws and small airways, are at increased risk, but it’s important to consider proportion. When considering the size of someone’s lower jaw or airway, think about its size in relation to the rest of their body. Children can have sleep apnea, but it is much less common than in adults.
5. Large neck circumference
Study after study confirms that adults with larger-than-average neck circumference are at an increased risk of sleep apnea. This may be a function of excessive fatty deposits in the neck that are unrelated to obesity.
For women, a neck circumference larger than 16” contributes to an elevated risk, while a neck larger than 17” is the measure for men.
6. Large tonsils
The final anatomical contribution to sleep apnea is large tonsils. This may be more present in children (along with enlarged adenoids that block nasal passages).
In some case, surgery to remove them completely resolves sleep apnea.
7. Alcohol consumption
There are a variety of sleep apnea causes that are considered preventable, and alcohol consumption is one of them.
Drinking before bed disrupts the hormones that regulate sleep, causing restlessness and a change in brain patterns. A slower arousal response means that the brain is less likely to recognize that the sleeper’s airway is blocked, making what might be minor sleep apnea more severe (and more dangerous).
8. Smoking
Smoking is a sleep apnea risk factor that has a bidirectional relationship with the condition. Research shows that not only are those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to smoke, but also smokers are predisposed to OSA.
In this case, it doesn’t matter if the chicken or the egg came first. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health today, regardless of whether or not you have sleep apnea.
9. Gender
Men are widely considered to be more at risk than women for sleep apnea, but this view may be changing. The Cleveland Clinic compiled a variety of statistics that have refuted the claim that men are twice as likely to develop sleep apnea as women. These include:
- Post-menopausal women are just as likely to have sleep apnea as men of any age
- Sleep apnea is often masked as fatigue or depression (more common in women)
- Women are underdiagnosed, potentially due to more subtle signs of sleep apnea
10. Age
While there is some disagreement on the gender prevalence of sleep apnea, researchers agree that it occurs most often in middle-aged and older adults. As noted above, children can have sleep apnea, but in far fewer numbers that adults.
11. Use of certain medications
Narcotic medications and some growth hormones can increase your risk of sleep apnea due to their action on your nervous system and its involuntary responses (e.g., breathing).
12. Congestive heart failure
Even when a high body-mass index is removed from the equation, patients with congestive heart failure are at an elevated risk for severe sleep apnea.
Having congestive heart failure and sleep apnea concurrently also increases a patient’s risk of death from either condition.
13. Stroke
Obstructive sleep apnea can contribute to stroke risks, but stroke also increases the chances of OSA, too.
How to manage your sleep apnea risk factors
The good news here is that many of these sleep apnea risk factors can be addressed by lifestyle changes or modifications. Maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking can all go far in preventing sleep apnea. Exercise is also positively correlated with better sleep, so it’s a win-win.
Making sure that other health conditions are well-managed can also help prevent sleep apnea as well.
Get tested for sleep apnea
If you’re in Phoenix, AZ Dentist is your sleep apnea dentist. If you have already participated in a sleep study and received a diagnosis, visit us to get fitted for a sleep apnea dental device. And, if polysomnography isn’t possible for you, we also offer an at-home sleep apnea test. Our SleepMed ARES device has the same results for 96% of patients who were also tested in a sleep clinic.
Get in touch today for an evaluation of your sleep apnea risk factors.