Risk Factors And Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea



It is during sleep that people are supposedly having the most restorative and restful time in the day. This is not true, however, with people with obstructive sleep apnea. Their apneic events, which happen when there are breath pauses, wake them hundreds of times a night and therefore disturb what should be a continuous, good night’s sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs for a number of reasons. However, not all people are aware of them, which makes it hard for the potential patients to seek immediate medical attention. Treatment is necessary, but it starts by knowing the risk factors and causes of obstructive sleep apnea.

Causes
1. Problems in the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea results from an obstruction in the airway, which is usually caused by certain problems in the airway components. These include the upper and lower jaws, tonsils, soft palate, tongue, and throat muscles.

Some sleep apnea cases involve over-relaxed throat muscles and tongue. When a person sleeps, his muscles normally relax, but when his throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal, it results in narrowing of the airway and causes apneic events.

Enlarged and collapsed soft palate and tonsils also cause obstructive sleep apnea.

2. Structural abnormalities. Anatomical abnormalities contribute to a person’s tendency to experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. For instance, the bone structure and shape of the head and neck may affect the size of the airway. A thicker neck may mean narrower airway. Moreover, large tongue and tonsils may also have an effect on the air passage. There are also structural abnormalities in the jaw, nose, and mouth that appear in people with craniofacial syndromes, making them more prone to obstructive sleep apnea. About 50% of those with Down Syndrome, for example, experience obstructive sleep apnea largely due to decreased muscle tone, comparatively large tongue, and narrower nasopharynx.

3. Obesity. Studies show that obesity has a part to play in the development of obstructive sleep apnea. Fatty cells tend to amass and clog the throat tissue, thereby causing narrowing of the airway. Obese people with sleep apnea are also shown to have more pressure on the airway, which results in more obstruction.

Risk Factors
1. Being Male. Obstructive sleep apnea is more likely to occur among men, although women are predisposed after menopause. Statistics show that one out of 50 middle-aged women has obstructive sleep apnea, compared to one out of 25 among middle-aged men.

2. Old age. Children and adolescents may have obstructive sleep apnea, although those over the age of 65 are twice or thrice more likely to experience it.

3. Use of alcohol, sedatives, and cigarette. Alcohol and sedatives make the muscles more relaxed. Smoking, on the other hand, is said to cause inflammation in the upper airway, thereby making smokers thrice more prone to obstructive sleep apnea.

4. Family history. Sleep apnea seems to run in the family. Therefore, those with family members suffering from obstructive sleep apnea should be more careful for being at a heightened risk.

5. Snoring. Though snoring indicates the presence of obstructive sleep apnea, chronic snoring, in some cases, is said to also cause apneic events. This is because frequent vibration due to snoring may cause the soft palate to stretch, thereby increasing its possibility to collapse. It doesn’t mean, however, that snoring automatically makes a person a candidate for obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring should not be regarded as a sole factor. Other risk factors and causes of obstructive sleep apnea should also be considered.







Comments

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


My Articles

Lifestyle Changes For Treatment Of Sleep Apnea
Key Points About Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea And People Who Are At Risk
Symptoms And Manifestations Of Sleep Apnea
Bits Of Information About Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep Apnea Device Options
Causes Of Sleep Apnea
The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea: A Rundown
Coping With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
What You Must Know About Sleep Apnea
What Is Sleep Apnea?
What Are The Sleep Apnea Tests?
Diagnosis Of Sleep Apnea
Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments
Sleep Apnea In Children: The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments
Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Breathing Devices As Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Brief Overview About Sleep Apnea
What Sleep Apnea Is
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: The Solution
Dealing With Sleep Apnea
Risk Factors And Causes Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Ways To Handle Sleep Apnea Conditions

   Related Sites

My Articles


What Are The Sleep Apnea Tests? Though the medical field took note of sleep apnea as..


Key Points About Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is usually considered as chronic or ongoing. It is..


Diagnosis Of Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is one of the hardest to..


The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea: A Rundown Many people choose to disregard sleep apnea, thinking it’s just..



Related Products:

Related News:

 
No item elements found in rss feed.