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Snoring (cont.)

Snoring Causes

  • The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea increases with age.

  • In people aged 30-60 years, 2% of all women and 4% of all men have OSA. Up to 60% of the elderly have the condition.

  • Most people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea are obese. Increased neck fat is thought to narrow the airway, making breathing more difficult.

  • Men are 7-10 times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than women.

  • More African Americans have OSA than do whites.

  • Most people with obstructive sleep apnea are older than 40 years. Weight gain and a decrease in muscle tone occur with aging, and these may play a role in increasing the incidence of OSA.

  • Sleep apnea is more common in postmenopausal women.

  • Family history and genetics play a role.

  • Polio and muscular dystrophy increase the chance of obstructive sleep apnea, as do other medical conditions such as sinus infections, allergies, colds and nasal tumors, and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).



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Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Surgery »

Snoring, excessive daytime somnolence, restless sleep, and apnea are manifestations of sleep-disordered breathing, which has plagued society for centuries.

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