Causes and risk factors of sleep apnea:
- Obesity
- Snoring (Snoring can cause the soft palate to lengthen, which in turn can obstruct the airway)
- Family history of OSA or snoring
- Family history of sleep apnea - No specific genetic marker for sleep apnea has been discovered, but obstructive sleep apnea seems to run in families. This may be a result of anatomic abnormalities that run in the family
- Small upper airway (large tongue, large uvula, recessed chin, excess tissue in the throat and/or soft palate)
- Shape of head and neck may create a smaller than normal airway
- Large tonsils or adenoids or other anatomical differences (A deviated septum, enlarged tongue or receding chin can also create difficulties breathing during sleep)
- Throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal during sleep (This can be due to alcohol or sedative use before bedtime, but not necessarily)
- Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
- Nasal congestion, nasal blockages and nasal irritants
- Other disorders and syndromes, such as Hypothyroidism, acromegaly, amyloidosis, vocal cord paralysis, post-polio syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, Marfan's syndrome and Down Syndrome
- Other physical conditions, such as immune system abnormalities, severe heartburn or acid reflux and high blood pressure. It isn’t clear whether the conditions are the cause or the result of sleep apnea