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