What Increases Your Risk

Certain factors make it more or less likely that you will have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some of these you cannot change, while others you can.

Factors you cannot change

Factors that you cannot change and that may make it more likely you will have sleep apnea include:

• Aging. Sleep apnea is most common in people age 30 and older.
• Male gender. Sleep apnea is more common in men. Some studies have indicated that about 2 to 3 times more men than women have sleep apnea, and sleep laboratories report that 5 or 6 times more men than women have the disease.¹
• Family history. If other members of your family have sleep apnea, you are more likely to get the disease than someone who does not have a family history of the disease.
• Ethnicity. Blacks, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders have a greater risk of sleep apnea than white people. Blacks get sleep apnea at a younger age than whites.¹
• Deformities of the spine. Deformities of the spine, such as scoliosis, may interfere with breathing and contribute to sleep apnea.
• Conditions that may cause head and face (craniofacial) abnormalities. Conditions such as Marfan's syndrome and Down syndrome may result in craniofacial abnormalities and increase the risk for sleep apnea.
• Menopause. Recent studies indicate that sleep apnea occurs more often in women who have been through menopause than in women who have not.¹ After menopause, women get sleep apnea at a rate similar to men.² Experts do not know why or how menopause increases the risk of sleep apnea.

Factors you may be able to change

Factors that you may be able to change that will reduce your chances of having sleep apnea include:

• Obesity. About 70% of people who have sleep apnea are obese.¹ Obesity is the factor most likely to lead to sleep apnea.
• Neck circumference. People who are overweight may have extra tissue around their neck, adding to their risk for sleep apnea. The risk increases for a man whose neck measures more than 17 inches around and for a woman whose neck measures more than 16 inches around.
• Enlarged tissues of the nose, mouth, or throat.Enlarged tissues in the nose, mouth, or throat can cause narrowing or blockage of the airway while you sleep, making sleep apnea more likely. Surgery can sometimes correct the blockage and improve sleep apnea.
• Bone deformities. Bone deformities of the nose, mouth, or throat can interfere with breathing, causing sleep apnea. Some people who have sleep apnea have a small, receding jaw. Surgery can sometimes correct these deformities and improve sleep apnea.
• Use of alcohol or medicine. Drinking alcohol or taking certain medicines before going to sleep can increase the risk for sleep apnea. These include sleeping pills and sedatives. Using Viagra (sildenafil) just before sleep also can make sleep apnea worse.⁴
• Sleeping on your back and using pillows. Sleeping on your back and using one or more pillows may make sleep apnea symptoms worse.
• Smoking. Smoking can increase your risk for sleep apnea because the nicotine that is in tobacco relaxes the muscles that keep the airways open.
• Poor sleep habits. Going to bed at different times or in different places may increase your risk for sleep apnea.
• Disorders of the hormone (endocrine) system. Disorders of the endocrine system (such as hypothyroidism and acromegaly) may increase your risk for sleep apnea.