According to Healthline, researchers have found there are indeed some genetic factors connected to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Roughly 40% of OSA is attributable to genetics, while the other 60% is likely from lifestyle choices.
So, snoring could be more than just a family quirk. In this blog, we’ll break down sleep apnea and whether it could be tied to your family tree–and if any sleep apnea books can truly help.
Inheriting a Sleep Disorder
Sleep apnea impacts millions of people across the country. If you feel restless at night or snore excessively, it could be worth checking with your doctor or reading up on the topic. Dr. Dylan Petkus’ book, Sleep Apnea Solution, has helped many people with sleep apnea and can be found at OptimalCircadianHealth.com.
However, researchers have also found that central sleep apnea appears to often be caused by brain signaling issues, which are usually not genetic.
OSA and Its Contributing Genetic Factors
Many genetic factors can contribute to a person being prone to developing sleep apnea. These include body fat, facial anatomy, etc. Here’s a breakdown of what has been discovered over the years:
- Genes influence body weight and where fat lives on your body, which could potentially contribute to whether or not a person develops OSA.
- Genetics affect the shape of someone’s face, including their skull size, nose size, and overall facial depth. All of these physical characteristics can impact how a person breathes, especially at night.
- Experts are still investigating the relationship between breathing control and genetic influences. They suspect they could impact the muscles and neural signals used to breathe.
- A person’s genes could also potentially influence a person’s sleep schedule and how well they sleep, which could impact their likelihood of developing OSA.
Overcoming Sleep Apnea
Whether your sleep apnea is genetic or not, there are ways you can tackle it. Possible solutions might include CPAP machines or sleep apnea mouthpieces.
Now that you’ve joined the club of sleep apnea sufferers who want to reclaim their rest, consider giving Dr. Petkus’ book a read. Sleep Apnea Solution has many helpful resources, including:
- A research-backed sleep apnea assessment
- Breathing routines audio
- CPAP freedom roadmap
- Sleep apnea nutritional assistance
- Sleep environment checklist
Managing your sleep apnea can be possible when you take a big-picture approach to sleep apnea self-care. Let us help you get your sleep back on track. Check out our ebook today!
