Many people who have sleep apnea wonder if there was something they could have done to prevent it. However, there are many extenuating factors that you cannot change when it comes to obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. There are some things you can do, such as quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and cut down on excess alcohol consumption. However, there are some factors that you just can’t do anything about. Age and gender are two such factors. The most common age and gender group for sleep apnea is men over forty and it is rarely seen in people less than thirty years of age.

Many more men than women suffer from sleep apnea. It is estimated that approximately 24% of the male popular has sleep apnea, compared to only 9% of women. This is a significant difference. It has also been found that premenopausal women suffer from sleep apnea less than their post menopausal counterparts. In fact, the gender gap for sleep apnea is almost negligible after menopause in women. There are many theories as to why the gender gap exists in term of sleep apnea, but no concrete evidence has been found.

Genetics appear to play a role in a person’s likelihood of getting sleep apnea. Regardless of gender, if a family member has sleep apnea you are more likely to have it as well during your lifetime.

Ethnicity is yet another factor. Research has found that African Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea compared to Caucasians. African Americans also appear to develop sleep apnea earlier in life than other ethnicities.

Luckily there are some factors that we can change, such as anatomy. If you have excess tissue in your throat that is causing an obstruction in your airway, you can have a surgical procedure done to remove or reduce it. Determining whether or not surgery will be beneficial to your sleep apnea is up to your doctor and sleep specialist.

If your spouse notices that you are snoring loudly, stop breathing for more than 10 seconds more than 5 times an hour during sleep, you may have sleep apnea. This may come as a surprise to you, but sleep apnea is more common than you think. Early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea can lead to a longer healthier life. Often diet and exercise will eliminate mild forms of sleep apnea however; many cases require medical intervention due to other worsening health issues.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common form of the condition and generally responds to treatment. Constant pressure air pump (CPAP) is the commonly used oral device used for patients diagnosed with OSA. This device requires a head piece connected to an air pressure pump. The head piece goes over the nose and continually pumps air down the throat to keep the larynx open. This method allows the patient to keep breathing while sleeping thus eliminating the loss of breathing and low blood oxygen problems. CPAP may be eliminated if the patient looses enough weight to breathe properly without assistance.

Central Sleep Apnea is another form of sleep apnea. This condition occurs when the nerves that regulate breathing do not work properly. This is a neurological problem that must be addressed. Either of these conditions can be determined in a sleep study test. This test requires an overnight stay at a sleep center where the patient’s sleep patterns are monitored for potential sleep apnea problems.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most commonly used surgery to treat sleep apnea. This surgery is intended to enlarge the airway by removing all redundant tissues (tonsils, adenoids, and uvula) from the pharynx. Youngsters with snoring problems often respond well to this surgery.

High blood pressure, insomnia and narcolepsy are all conditions which can occur due to prolonged sleep apnea. The loss of breathing increases the blood carbon dioxide level due to loss of oxygen. Low blood oxygen can lead to the above mentioned problems plus enlarged heart and various other heart related issues.

Possibly twenty million people suffer from sleep apnea and haven’t been properly diagnosed. People who suffer from sleep apnea are often loud snorers, but that’s not to say if you snore you have sleep apnea. If you partner tells you that you stop breathing often while sleeping or you have morning headaches and are often sleepy during the day seek medical advise. Remember, early diagnosis of sleep apnea can lead to a healthier, longer life.