| A person's chances of developing obstructive sleep | | | | difference between male and female sufferers. Some |
| apnea (OSA) can depend on a number of factors, | | | | of these studies show that men are 2 to 3 times |
| some of which are beyond their control. When these | | | | more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, while other |
| are combined with other potential causes such as | | | | studies have shown them 5 to 6 times more likely to |
| being overweight, drinking or smoking it can greatly | | | | deal with it than women. |
| increase the risk. | | | | Genetics does play a part in sleep apnea but it is not |
| One of the factors that is somewhat beyond our | | | | really known how large a part. If you have a family |
| control is age. Sleep apnea is more common is people | | | | history of sleep apnea - in either men or women - it |
| over the age of 30, with the highest percentages in | | | | is more likely that you will develop the disorder at |
| males over 40 years old. | | | | some point in your life. |
| It is more commonly found among men than women. | | | | Race is another factor that appears to play a role. |
| It is thought that between 12 and 20 million | | | | African Americans as well as Hispanics and Pacific |
| Americans are affected by sleep apnea, ranging from | | | | Islanders are more likely to be afflicted than |
| mild to severe. Breaking that down by gender, | | | | Caucasians. They are still affected by it but in lower |
| roughly 24% of American men suffer from sleep | | | | percentages. |
| apnea compared to only 9% of women. | | | | Any type of medical condition that affects your |
| Post-menopausal women are more likely to be | | | | breathing can ultimately contribute to sleep apnea. |
| affected by it and the percentages between men | | | | Health conditions such as Marfan's syndrome or Down |
| and women become much closer after women have | | | | syndrome that can lead to abnormalities in the face |
| gone through menopause. | | | | and head - known as craniofacial problems - lead to a |
| There have been many studies done to examine the | | | | much greater chance of sleep apnea. |