Obstructive sleep apnea is partly genetic, and first-degree relatives of people who have it carry about 50 percent higher risk than the general public.
I’m Dr. Gregory Mark, and at my Forest Hills office I see the inherited side of sleep apnea in the lower jaw, the palate, and the space behind the tongue. Researchers have found many gene variations with small effects, and none of them acts alone.
| What people assume | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| One gene causes sleep apnea | Many gene variations each add a small amount of risk |
| A parent has it, so I will too | Risk is about 50 percent higher, and the inheritance pattern is unclear |
| Sleep apnea only affects people with obesity | Obesity is present in 60 to 70 percent of cases, and inherited airway shape is a separate risk factor |
| Snoring is only a family quirk | Close relatives of people with sleep apnea are more likely to snore or have pauses in breathing |
| All sleep apnea is inherited the same way | Central sleep apnea has its own risk factors, including heart failure, stroke, and opioid use |
Does sleep apnea run in families?
Sleep apnea runs in families because relatives share genes that shape the airway, body composition, and breathing control. MedlinePlus Genetics, a service of the National Institutes of Health, lists craniofacial development, breathing regulation, and appetite control among the body processes those genes affect.
A review in the journal Respirology reports that genetic factors explain around 40 percent of the variation in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the count of breathing pauses per hour of sleep. The same review found that close relatives of a person with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to snore or have pauses that someone else notices, even after researchers account for obesity, age, and sex.
Families also share kitchens, routines, and habits. MedlinePlus describes obstructive sleep apnea as the result of genetic, health, and lifestyle factors combined.
If my parents have sleep apnea, will I definitely get it?
A parent with sleep apnea raises your risk, and the condition is far from certain. MedlinePlus Genetics describes the inheritance pattern as unclear, with risk coming from a mix of genetic, health, and lifestyle factors. A family history is a good reason to watch for symptoms and mention them to your physician or dentist.
Is snoring genetic?
Snoring has an inherited side. First-degree relatives of people with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to snore, even after researchers account for obesity, age, and sex. Loud snoring on most nights, in a family where someone has a sleep apnea diagnosis, deserves a conversation with a physician.
Which inherited traits raise sleep apnea risk?
The size and shape of the jaw, palate, tongue, and throat are inherited traits that raise sleep apnea risk. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explains that genes help determine the size and shape of the skull, face, and upper airway.
The Respirology review names craniofacial features commonly found in people with obstructive sleep apnea: a small or set-back lower jaw, a narrow space behind the tongue, and a long soft palate. NHLBI adds large tonsils and a large tongue to the list of features that can narrow the airway.
Think of the airway as a hallway. A wide hallway stays passable with a few boxes stacked along the wall. Stack the same boxes in a narrow hallway and the path is blocked. A person who inherits a narrow airway has less margin when throat muscles relax during sleep.
I treat parents, their grown children, and grandchildren from the same Forest Hills families, so a relative’s sleep apnea diagnosis is something I want to hear about at your exam.
Can skinny people have sleep apnea?
Yes, people at any body size can have obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity is present in 60 to 70 percent of people with the condition, according to MedlinePlus Genetics, and inherited features such as a small lower jaw or large tonsils are separate risk factors. A slim person who snores and wakes tired can ask a physician about a sleep study.
Does body weight matter more than genes?
Body weight and genes both matter, and the two overlap. MedlinePlus Genetics calls obesity a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea and reports that fatty tissue in the head and neck is thought to narrow the airway. The same source lists appetite control among the processes that sleep apnea genes are involved in.
NHLBI notes that maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent or treat sleep apnea caused by obesity. Weight has many causes, inherited ones included, and your physician is the right person to talk with about what a healthy weight means for you.
What is the #1 cause of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea has several causes, and none of them ranks first for everyone. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the upper airway is blocked during sleep, and NIH sources name obesity as a major risk factor alongside age, sex, family history, large tonsils, and alcohol use. Central sleep apnea comes from the way the brain controls breathing during sleep.
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Is central sleep apnea genetic?
Central sleep apnea has a genetic link too, alongside medical risk factors such as heart failure, stroke, and long-term opioid use. NHLBI states that genes can affect how the brain controls breathing during sleep, and names congenital central hypoventilation syndrome as one genetic condition that raises risk.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the airway type, and the genes involved shape the jaw, the throat, and the tissue around them. Central sleep apnea starts in the brain’s control of breathing.
A sleep study shows which type a person has. Oral appliances made by a dentist are meant for the obstructive type.
What signs should you watch for if sleep apnea runs in your family?
Loud snoring, pauses in breathing that someone else notices, and tiredness after a full night of sleep are the signs to watch for. Sleep apnea happens while you are asleep, so a partner or family member is often the first to notice.
Red flags:
- Loud snoring on most nights
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up often during the night
- Headaches
- Daytime sleepiness or trouble with attention and memory
Some clues show up in the dental chair. At checkups I look for the flat, worn edges left by teeth grinding at night, and finding them is my cue to ask how you sleep.
Are children more likely to get sleep apnea if a parent has it?
Children are among the first-degree relatives who carry about 50 percent greater risk, according to MedlinePlus Genetics. Obstructive sleep apnea affects 2 to 4 percent of children. Regular snoring in a child is something to raise with the pediatrician, and you can mention it at a dentistry for kids visit with us as well.
Sleep apnea in the family and snoring at home?
Tell me about both at your next exam. I’ll check for dental signs and tell you if a sleep study is the next step.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed and treated?
A physician diagnoses sleep apnea with a sleep study, and treatment depends on the type and how severe it is. American Dental Association policy gives dentists the screening role and sends patients at risk to a physician for the diagnosis.
Home sleep studies are an option for many patients. A portable device worn at home tracks pulse, snoring, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels, and a sleep physician reviews the data.
CPAP, a machine that delivers pressurized air through a mask, is generally the first treatment physicians prescribe for obstructive sleep apnea. A joint guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances for adults who cannot tolerate CPAP or prefer another option, fitted by a qualified dentist.
In my office, a custom sleep appliance starts with an impression of your teeth. The finished sleep apnea mouth guard holds the lower jaw slightly forward so the tongue and soft tissue stay clear of the airway. Getting used to wearing one takes a little time, and a few short adjustment visits are normal.
Recommended: If a parent, brother, or sister has sleep apnea and you snore or wake up tired, ask your physician about a sleep study.
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TL;DR
- Obstructive sleep apnea is partly genetic, with about 50 percent higher risk for first-degree relatives.
- Genetic factors explain around 40 percent of the variation in the apnea-hypopnea index.
- Inherited jaw and airway shape is a risk factor at any body size.
- Central sleep apnea has different risk factors, including heart failure, stroke, and opioid use.
- A physician makes the diagnosis with a sleep study, and a dentist can fit a custom oral appliance for the obstructive type.
Sleep apnea in your family is a good reason to get checked.
Bring what you know about your relatives’ diagnoses and what your partner hears at night. I’ll tell you if the next step is a sleep study, a custom sleep appliance, or a visit to your physician. Pricing is quoted after an assessment, and our financial coordinators review your insurance coverage first.
Frequently asked questions
Is sleep apnea hereditary or genetic?
Sleep apnea is both. “Hereditary” means a trait passes from parent to child, and “genetic” means genes are involved. Obstructive sleep apnea fits each description in part. Risk passes through families by way of many genes with small effects, and health and lifestyle factors add to that risk.
Can you lower your risk if sleep apnea runs in your family?
Family history and age cannot be changed, and other risk factors can. NHLBI says people may be able to prevent obstructive sleep apnea with healthy lifestyle changes, such as a heart-healthy diet, aiming for a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol. Your physician can help you decide where to start.
Can a dentist tell if I have sleep apnea?
A dentist can spot signs and screen for risk, and a physician makes the diagnosis. American Dental Association policy asks dentists to screen patients and refer those at risk to a physician. At Forest Hills Dental, I may recommend a home sleep study, and a sleep physician reviews the results.
Does insurance cover a sleep study?
Coverage for a sleep study depends on your medical plan, so call your insurer and ask about home sleep testing. At Forest Hills Dental, our financial coordinators request a detailed breakdown of your benefits and show you the expected costs up front. CareCredit financing is available for amounts your insurance does not cover.
At what age does sleep apnea show up when it runs in the family?
Sleep apnea can occur at any age, and risk rises as people get older, according to NHLBI. Obstructive sleep apnea affects 2 to 4 percent of children and at least 10 percent of adults. Men are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age than women.
How to self treat sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea needs a diagnosis from a physician, and self-treatment skips the sleep study that shows which type you have and how severe it is. Store-bought mouthpieces are not fitted or adjusted by a dentist, and the AASM and AADSM guideline favors custom, adjustable appliances over non-custom ones. Start with your physician.