Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

Bulbar poliomyelitis Encephalitis Neurodegenerative diseases Stroke Problems after cervical spine surgery Primary hypoventilation syndrome Brain tumors Downs syndrome due to a large tongue and a thick neck Gender Men are thought to be 2 to 4 times more likely to develop sleep apnea than women. However, some researchers have suggested that this difference might actually be because women are underdiagnosed with the condition. Genetic Factors The tendency to develop sleep apnea appears to run in certain families. Ethnic Background Sleep apnea is more common among: African Americans People of Mexican origin Pacific Islanders Physical Characteristics You have an increased risk of developing sleep apnea if you have the following physical characteristics: Thick neck Obstructed nasal passages Large tongue Narrow airway Receding chin Overbite Certain shapes and increased rigidity of the palate and jaw You also have an increased risk of developing sleep apnea if you breathe through your mouth while youre sleeping, or if you snore. References: American Sleep Apnea Association website. Available at: http://www.sleepapnea.org/ .

Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 21st ed. WB Saunders Company; 2000. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ . National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ . Last reviewed May 2007 by Elie Edmond Rebeiz, MD, FACS Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.