{"id":1699,"date":"2024-06-21T11:54:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T11:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=1699"},"modified":"2024-07-16T11:58:57","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T11:58:57","slug":"can-sleep-apnea-be-genetic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2024\/06\/21\/can-sleep-apnea-be-genetic\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Sleep Apnea Be Genetic?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our genes influence everything from the color of our hair and eyes to our height and even our personality. They are often linked to an increased or lowered risk of developing certain health conditions as well, which raises a simple question: What role do genes play when it comes to sleep apnea<\/a>? Is there a sleep apnea gene? Are you doomed to struggle with the condition because of an unfortunate hand dealt by nature? Fortunately, there is more nuance to the answer than this, and you don\u2019t have to let your genes stand in the way of getting a good night\u2019s rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

There is No Sleep Apnea Gene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New discoveries are made every year regarding the human genome, so you\u2019ll often see stories like, \u201cScientists have discovered the gene for X.\u201d Thankfully, a dedicated sleep apnea gene has yet to be found. However, a person\u2019s genetics have been shown to make them more likely to have one or more risk factors that have a direct correlation with sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Genes & Sleep Apnea Are Connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is characterized by a person experiencing brief but repeated interruptions in breathing throughout the night. For some people, they naturally have a narrow or less rigid airway that is more prone to becoming blocked. At the same time, those with a larger-than-average neck or tongue tend to have sleep apnea more often than the average population. All of these traits are directly influenced by someone\u2019s genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genes can also play a role in the leading cause of sleep apnea in the U.S.\u2014obesity. Countless studies have shown that there is a strong connection between someone\u2019s genes, home environment, and their likelihood of becoming obese, which directly contributes to sleep apnea risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is Hope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the people who haven\u2019t won the genetic lottery when it comes to sleep apnea, the good news is that genetic factors do not guarantee<\/em> someone will have the condition. And, the ways a person can lower their risk, manage, and maybe even avoid the condition are the same no matter what your DNA says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n