WHAT CAUSES SLEEP APNEA?
The exact cause of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) remains unclear; however, there are well documented contributing factors. The primary risk factor is excessive weight gain with the accumulation of fat on the sides of the upper airway causing it to become narrow and predisposed to closure when the muscles relax. Other risk factors may include gender (males seem to have a greater predisposition), age, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, or an enlarged tongue. Use of alcohol or sedative drugs which relax the musculature, and smoking which may cause inflammation and swelling, can both lead to narrowing of the upper airway. A short, thick neck is also often associated with obstruction. Studies suggest that 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 50 years have symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea.
