Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder affecting about 26% of adults aged between 30 and 70. Unfortunately, it can increase the risk of developing many serious health issues such as heart attack and stroke. So, because of its remarkable impact, people are usually curious to learn more about the causes of the disorder and if genetics play a role. If you too are interested, continue reading below.

What is Sleep Apnea?

In short, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep resulting in extreme daytime tiredness, fatigue, morning headaches, concentration issues, irritability, poor focus, etc.

There are two main types of the disorder: central sleep apnea (CSA) which occurs when the brain fails to send the right signals to the breathing muscles, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which occurs when the throat muscles relax too much resulting in a collapsed airway.

The Role of Genetics in OSA

In this article, we will focus on obstructive sleep apnea since it is the most common type of this disorder. Even though certain medical conditions and lifestyle choices mainly contribute to sleep apnea, some strong genetic factors have also been identified as contributors to sleep apnea.

According to studies, people are at a higher risk of OSA if a close family member suffers from the disorder. Experts have also found that the apnea-hypopnea index (the number of breathing interruptions) is directly linked to genetics.

Here’s how experts believe genetics contribute to obstructive sleep apnea:

• Body weight – Genetics play a huge role in body weight and how fat is distributed throughout the body, both of which directly increase the risk of developing OSA. Indeed, obese people are at a 10% higher risk of having OSA.
• Face anatomy – The shape of a person’s skull and face, as well as skull width, facial depth, and nose width and length, are all affected by genes, all of which together with the jaw placement impact the width of the airway and how easily it can collapse.
• Breathing control – Although there’s not enough research about the connection between breath control and genes, some experts claim that genetics may affect the muscles and neural signals involved in the breathing process.
• Sleep and circadian rhythm – Your innate sleep pattern, sleep quality, and the risk of suffering from another sleep disorder are all influenced by genes. And, similar to breathing control, it requires further research.

Furthermore, as you may guess, relatively little is known about the specific genes that contribute to developing obstructive sleep apnea though experts have been studying the subject for over 20 years. Yet, as of now, researchers have found evidence implying that certain genes are connected to intermittent hypoxia or OSA, including:

• Serotonin receptor encoding gene (HTR2A)
• Dopamine receptor D1 encoding gene (DRD1)
• G-protein receptor gene (GPR83)
• Angiopoietin-2 gene (ANGPT2)
• Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1)
• Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype (PTGER3)
• β-arrestin 1 gene (ARRB1)

Final Thoughts

Although further research is needed, experts have identified several ways in which genetics can contribute to OSA development. Therefore, if you have a family member suffering from sleep apnea, ensure you get yourself checked by a specialist. Here’s a brief list of common symptoms you should look out for:

• loud snoring
• choking or gasping for air in sleep
• night time awakenings
• daytime tiredness
• irritability
• morning headaches
• memory issues
• poor concentration