Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

It is very important to understand that sleep apnea can occur at any age and affect both genders. Sleep apnea is thought to affect 4% of the male and 3% of the female population. Many people that have sleep apnea are misdiagnosed as simply having a snoring or sleeping problem. There are some people who are at much higher risk than others. Below is a list of risk factors that increase the likelihood of having sleep apnea:

• Overweight and Obesity. a fat or thick neck tends to narrow the airway in your throat.
• A naturally narrow throat. This may be an inherited characteristic
• Being male. Men are twice as likely to suffer from sleep apnea as women are.
• Being over the age of forty. Sleep apnea occurs two to three times as often in adults above the age of 40.
• A family history of sleep apnea.
• Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat
• Stroke or brain tumor. These conditions can impair the brain's ability to regulate breathing