Is Sleep Apnea Genetic?

Sleep improvement starts with understanding

Get clarity from home—test your sleep today.

Take the First Step

4.8

55,000+ patients

Is Sleep Apnea Hereditary?

Though sleep apnea isn’t a directly inherited condition, researchers have identified genetic factors Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source that contribute to a person’s likelihood of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder that’s caused by physical airway blockages. 

By contrast, central sleep apnea (CSA), a condition where the brain temporarily fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep, appears to be largely caused by other, non-genetic factors Trusted Source F1000ResearchView Source .

Studies show that people face a greater risk of developing OSA when they have a close family member with the disorder. Experts estimate that about 40% of differences in the number of times people stop breathing (apnea hypopnea index or AHI) as they sleep is due to genetics.

Genetic Traits That Raise OSA Risk

Researchers hypothesize that there are multiple ways genetics may predispose a person to OSA:

• Body fat amount and distribution: Genes impact body weight and where fat is located on your body, both of which influence whether or not a person develops OSA. People who have obesity are more than 10 times as likely to have OSA.
• Facial anatomy: Genes greatly affect the shape of a person’s face and skull, including skull width, nose width and length, and facial depth. The size and shape of a person’s nose, along with the placement of the jaw and other bones, impact how wide the airway is and how easily it can become blocked.

Genes Associated With High OSA Risk

Although researchers have been studying the genetics of sleep apnea Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source for more than 20 years, relatively little is known about the specific genes involved with sleep-disordered breathing. Much more research is needed, but as of now, researchers have found evidence suggesting the following genes may be related to intermittent hypoxia or involved in OSA Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source :

• Angiopoietin-2 gene (ANGPT2)
• −308G/A polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)
• Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype (PTGER3)
• Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1)
• G-protein receptor gene (GPR83)
• β-arrestin 1 gene (ARRB1)
• Dopamine receptor D1 encoding gene (DRD1)
• Serotonin receptor encoding gene (HTR2A)

More research is needed to confirm, but genetic factors involved in OSA could partially explain why the disorder affects people of different races Trusted Source Sleep MedicineView Source differently. Genetics could also help explain why OSA is connected to so many other conditions. Related research is in the early stages, but researchers have found overlap in genes associated with both OSA and high triglyceride levels Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

The causes and risk factors for sleep apnea vary, depending on the type of sleep apnea and the age at which it develops.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Repeated obstructions of the upper airway Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source during sleep cause OSA. Multiple factors increase a person’s risk of developing the disorder:

• Obesity: A 10% increase in body weight makes a person six times as likely to develop moderate to severe OSA. By contrast, losing 10% of your body weight can reduce the number of lapses in breathing per hour by 26%.
• Body type: Where a person carries weight can increase their risk of OSA. Those with a larger neck or a larger abdomen face a greater risk.
• Face anatomy: A person’s face shape, as well as the placement of certain bones in the head and jaw, can result in a narrow airway and an increased risk of OSA.
• Sex: Men are more likely to develop OSA throughout young and middle adulthood. Once women experience menopause, however, they’re equally as likely to have OSA. Among men and women with a similar body mass index (BMI), men tend to experience more severe symptoms.
• Age: OSA becomes more common as people age. For example, research suggests that 10% of men between 30 and 40 have OSA, while 30% of men over 80 have the disorder. This increased risk could be the result of less time spent in deep sleep, which tends to occur naturally with age.
• Race and ethnicity: Studies have found people of Black, Hispanic, Chinese, and Native American descent face a slightly higher OSA risk.

Central Sleep Apnea

CSA is caused by the brainstem failing to properly regulate breathing during sleep. Although CSA also involves lapses in breathing during sleep, its causes and risk factors are very different from those for OSA. Congestive heart failure and problems at high altitude can both be precursors to developing CSA, as can opioid use.

Some people have complex sleep apnea, in which CSA symptoms arise during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for OSA. This type of CSA is controversial, with experts disagreeing about what causes it and how to treat it. Less commonly, CSA is associated with kidney failure or has no known cause, in which case it is called idiopathic central sleep apnea Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . Experts continue to research and try to understand how CSA develops in idiopathic cases.

Sleep Better

Sign up for emails about living with sleep apnea,
general sleep improvement, and our comprehensive Better Sleep Guidebook.

Sleep Apnea in Children

Like adults, children can have sleep apnea, both OSA and CSA. Several factors increase a child’s risk of developing OSA Trusted Source Merck ManualFirst published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers.View Source :

• Obesity
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Excessive nasal congestion
• Skull or face abnormalities
• Sedatives or opioid medications
• Certain congenital disorders, like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and Prader-Willi syndrome

Obesity is currently the most common risk factor for childhood OSA. As many as 60% of obese children Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source have OSA, and the rate of OSA in children can be expected to grow as obesity rates increase.

CSA is very rare Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source in children and hasn’t been widely studied. Existing research shows that CSA in children is associated with various neurological disorders, including:

• Arnold-Chiari malformation
• Ganglioglioma
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Down syndrome
• Other genetic diseases

Sleep apnea is more common in infants under 1 year of age Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source — particularly those born prematurely or those with other risk factors — due to their still-developing sleep-wake cycle, respiratory drive, and physical airway structure. In some cases, the condition that causes sleep apnea in an infant may be inherited Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .

How to Lower Your Risk of Sleep Apnea

Even if you’re genetically predisposed to OSA, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of developing the disorder. Many of these interventions can also decrease OSA severity if you already have sleep apnea. 

• Lifestyle and habits: Smoking, alcohol, and sedatives can all relax your throat muscles so much that your upper airway collapses. 
• Weight management: Weight plays a major role in OSA development. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly can lower your OSA risk.
• Sleeping position: If you regularly sleep on your back, you may find relief by switching to side sleeping because it helps keep your airway open. 
• Treating sinus issues: Congestion and sinus issues can make breathing harder, which can worsen apnea, which can then worsen sinus problems. To get out of this cycle, treat sinus inflammation right when it starts. 
• Strengthen your neck: If you don’t have enough muscle tone in your neck, you may have problems getting sufficient airflow. Neck exercises and weight loss can make a difference. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it’s important to get treated. CPAP therapy, oral devices, and certain weight-loss drugs are all Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) approved to treat OSA. The first step in treatment is doing a sleep study — either in person or at home. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor

If you or your child show signs of sleep apnea, make an appointment with your doctor. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, daytime tiredness, morning headaches, trouble concentrating, and irritability. A bed partner may observe gasping, choking, and noticeable lapses in breathing. Children show similar symptoms, but may also experience night sweats, wetting the bed, mouth breathing, and hyperactivity.

Your doctor can ask questions to determine if sleep apnea might be the disorder you’re facing and, if so, refer you to a sleep specialist for further testing. By diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, people can improve their symptoms and reduce their risk of other associated disorders.

Still have questions? Ask our community!

Join our Sleep Care Community — a trusted hub of sleep health professionals, product specialists, and people just like you. Whether you need expert sleep advice for your insomnia or you’re searching for the perfect mattress, we’ve got you covered. Get personalized guidance from the experts who know sleep best.