U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know
Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**
A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
A **lock** ( A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Search Query:
			MAIN MENU

																				
              Health Topics
								All Health Topics A-Z
					
													
		

		Asthma


				

															Heart-Healthy Living


				

															High Blood Pressure


				

															Sickle Cell Disease


				

															Sleep Apnea


				

															Information & Resources on COVID-19
																				
              Health Education
								Education Programs and Initiatives
					
													
		

		The Heart Truth®


				

															Learn More Breathe Better®


				

															Blood Diseases and Disorders Education Program


				

															Publications and Resources
																				
              The Science
								Research Focus Areas
					
													
		

		Blood Disorders and Blood Safety


				

															Sleep Science and Sleep Disorders


				

															Lung Diseases


				

															Health Disparities and Inequities


				

															Heart and Vascular Diseases


				

															Precision Medicine Activities


				

															Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity


				

															Population and Epidemiology Studies


				

															Women’s Health


				

															Research Topics


				

															Clinical Trials


				

															All Science A-Z
																				
              Grants and Training
								Grants and Training Home


				

															Policies and Guidelines


				

															Funding Opportunities and Contacts


				

															Training and Career Development
																				
              News and Events
								News and Events Home
					
													
		

		Email Alerts


				

															All News
					
													
		

		NHLBI News


				

															NHLBI in the Press


				

															Research Features


				

															All Events
					
													
		

		Past Events


				

															Upcoming Events
																				
              About NHLBI
								About NHLBI Home
					
													
		

		Mission and Strategic Vision


				

															Leadership


				

															Divisions, Offices and Centers


				

															Advisory Committees


				

															Budget and Legislative Information


				

															Jobs and Working at the NHLBI


				

															Contact and FAQs


				

															NIH Sleep Research Plan
						
						HOME
		Search Text: Sleep Apnea
HomeHealth Topics< Back ToSleep ApneaCauses and Risk Factors

0
  Sleep Apnea
        MENU

    HomeHealth Topics< Back ToSleep ApneaCauses and Risk Factors

  What Is Sleep Apnea?
                                                  
                          Symptoms
                                                  
                          Diagnosis
                                                  
                          Causes and Risk Factors
                                                  
                          Treatment
                                                  
                          Living With
                                                  
                          Sleep Apnea and Women
MORE INFORMATION
                        Find a clinical trial
                        Fact sheets and handouts
                            Research
    
          Sleep Apnea
Sleep ApneaCauses and Risk Factors

Language switcherEnglishEspañol

What causes sleep apnea?

            Central sleep apnea is caused by problems with the way your brain controls your breathing while you sleep.Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by conditions that block airflow through your upper airways during sleep. For example, your tongue may fall backward and block your airway.
The figure shows how your tongue and soft palate can block your airway during sleep***Causes of sleep apnea.** The figure shows how your tongue and soft palate can block your airway during sleep.*Your age, family history, lifestyle habits, other medical conditions, and some features of your body can raise your risk of sleep apnea. Healthy lifestyle changes can help lower your risk.

          
What raises the risk of obstructive sleep apnea?

            Many conditions can cause sleep apnea. Some factors, such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, can be changed. Other factors, such as age, family history, race and ethnicity, and sex, cannot be changed.

**Age:** Sleep apnea can occur at any age, but your risk increases as you get older. As you age, fatty tissue can build up in your neck and the tongue and raise your risk of sleep apnea.
	**Endocrine disorders, or changes in your hormone levels:** Your hormone levels can affect the size and shape of your face, tongue, and airway. People who have low levels of thyroid hormones or high levels of insulin or growth hormone have a higher risk of sleep apnea.
	**Family history and genetics:** Sleep apnea can be inherited. Your genes help determine the size and shape of your skull, face, and upper airway. Also, your genes can raise your risk of other health conditions that can lead to sleep apnea, such as cleft lip and cleft palate and Down syndrome.
	**Heart or kidney failure:** These conditions can cause fluid to build up in your neck, which can block your upper airway.
	**Large tonsils** **and a thick neck:** These features may cause sleep apnea because they narrow your upper airway. Also, having a large tongue and your tongue’s position in your mouth can make it easier for your tongue to block your airway while you sleep.
	**Lifestyle habits:** Drinking alcohol and smoking can raise your risk of sleep apnea. Alcohol can make the muscles of your mouth and throat relax, which may close your upper airway. Smoking can cause Inflammation in your upper airway, which affects breathing.
	**Obesity****:** This condition is a common cause of sleep apnea. People with this condition can have increased fat deposits in their necks that can block the upper airway. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent or treat sleep apnea caused by obesity.
	**Sex:** Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women. Men are more likely to have serious sleep apnea and to get sleep apnea at a younger age than women.

          
What raises the risk of central sleep apnea?

            **Age:** As you get older, normal changes in how your brain controls breathing during sleep may raise your risk of sleep apnea.
	**Family history and genetics:** Your genes can affect how your brain controls your breathing during sleep. Genetic conditions such as congenital central hypoventilation syndrome can raise your risk.
	**Lifestyle habits:** Drinking alcohol and smoking can affect how your brain controls sleep or the muscles involved in breathing.
	**Opioid use****:** Opioid use disorder or long-term use of prescribed opioid-based pain medicines can cause problems with how your brain controls sleep.
	**Health conditions:** Some conditions that affect how your brain controls your airway and chest muscles can raise your risk. These include heart failure, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and myasthenia gravis. Also, your hormone levels can affect how your brain controls your breathing.
	**Premature birth:** Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy have a higher risk of breathing problems during sleep. In most cases, the risk gets lower as the baby gets older.Research for your health

NHLBI research found that sleep apnea may raise the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Our current research will help develop new and improved treatments for sleep apnea to help prevent these complications.
      
                                                                                                                            Learn more about the research we support on sleep apnea.

          
Can you prevent sleep apnea?

            You may be able to prevent obstructive sleep apnea by making healthy lifestyle changes, such a eating a heart-healthy diet, aiming for a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. Your healthcare provider also may ask you to sleep on your side and to adopt healthy sleep habits such as getting the recommended amount of sleep.
Book traversal links for Causes and Risk Factors
      Previous
                    Diagnosis
                    Next
                    Treatment
  Last updated on March 24, 2022 Back To Top Link
  

        

        Back to top
  Web Policies & Notices
  

        

              Accessibility
                      No FEAR Act Data
                      Privacy Policy
                      Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
                      HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
    
          Related Government Websites
  

        

              Health and Human Services
                      National Institutes of Health
                      Office of the Inspector General
                      USA.gov
    
          Stay Connected
    
      
            chat bubblesLive ChatLive Chat with us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.envelopeGet Email AlertsReceive automatic alerts about NHLBI related news and highlights from across the Institute.
  Footer Bottom
  

        



Contact Us
                            Site Index
                            Jobs