Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing while asleep.  The most common form of this disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, which occurs when your tongue or soft palette obstruct your airway.  It is currently believed that OSA can be genetic due to the factors that play a role in the disorder.

Inheriting Sleep Apnea

Physical traits are inherited from one generation to the next.  The chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea are much higher in those who have family members who also have the disorder.  This is partially based upon your craniofacial complex.

Your craniofacial complex is made up of your skull, face and oral cavities.  Just as exterior similarities exist between relatives, internal similarities exist as well.  If you have a similar craniofacial complex as someone in your family who suffers from sleep apnea, there is a good chance that you may already have or could potentially get the disorder.

Another inheritable trait that can contribute to OSA is a high BMI.  It is important to know that an elevated BMI does not mean that you will have sleep apnea, just as having a lower BMI means that you will not have OSA.  However, a higher BMI could mean you are at a greater risk for developing the disorder.

Genetic Sleep Apnea Study

A recent study evaluated 20 participants who suffer from OSA along with 40 of their undiagnosed relatives.  A control group of the general population was also studied so that there would be a good basis for comparison.  After the sleep study was complete, the results showed that 20% of the relatives were diagnosed with OSA in comparison to only 5% of the control group.

These results show a much higher likelihood that you will develop sleep apnea if someone else in your family suffers from the disorder.

If you think that you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea, please call Dr. Levy for a consultation.