Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person's breathing to stop and start while they sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, happens when something blocks the upper airway. Another type, central sleep apnea, occur when the brain does not send the necessary signals for breathing.
Can sleep apnea be fatal?
Obstructive sleep apnea can increase a person's risk of sudden death, according to a 2021 study. It can also cause damage to organs in the body, which can increase a person's risk of conditions such as chronic kidney disease, heart and blood vessel diseases, and some cancers. Receiving proper treatment for sleep apnea may help to reduce these risks.
Is sleep apnea genetic?
Some people may have a genetic predisposition to sleep apnea. However, it does not happen due to a single gene, so it does not follow a typical inheritance pattern. As a 2017 article notes, environmental and other factors may also play a role in the development of sleep apnea. For example, obesity, which also has both genetic and environmental factors, can increase a person's risk of sleep apnea.
Can sleep apnea cause high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (hypertension) and obstructive sleep apnea often occur together. It is unclear whether one causes the other, but some risk factors for hypertension, such as obesity, are the same as those for obstructive sleep apnea. Treating obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can help to manage blood pressure in some cases.
