Is Sleep Apnea Hereditary?

Sleep apnea is a serious condition, and it can get worse the longer it goes untreated. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the throat muscles are too relaxed, making it too easy for the throat to close. That is why the most significant symptom of sleep apnea includes the inability to breathe for short periods of time. But is sleep apnea hereditary?

Your trusted dentist or sleep expert should assess this very dangerous condition. Sleep apnea has many effects on dental health, which is why it is our job at Samaritan Dental Arts to provide the best treatment possible. If you are looking for a dentist in downtown Los Angeles, look no further.

Many of our patients wonder whether sleep apnea is a hereditary trait that can be inherited or passed down. Today, we want to explore that while offering different diagnosis and treatment options available to you.

Let’s Look at the Statistics

After extensive research, the Sleep Research Society determined that sleep apnea can be attributed to genetics about 40% of the time. This means that yes, it does have the possibility of being hereditary. If your parents or family members have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, you do have a risk of developing the condition yourself.

The possibility of developing this condition through genetics goes even beyond that. Some of the biggest risk factors that can lead to the development of sleep apnea are also genetics.

This includes factors such as:

• Obesity
• Thick neck
• Nasal congestion
• Large tonsils
• Hypothyroidism

If you have a family history of any of the above conditions, it’s essential to speak with your local experts to determine the safest measures for you.

Other Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

Other than the hereditary conditions, there are environmental and lifestyle factors that can create a risk for this dangerous condition as well. These include:

• Smoking
• Aging
• Menopause
• Using an excess of alcohol
• Using sedatives
• Having a small jaw

If you fear that you are at risk for developing sleep apnea, or you have already started showing symptoms of the condition, it’s important to seek medical help as soon as possible. This is a life-threatening situation as sleep apnea can cause you to stop breathing in your sleep.

Getting Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment

Did you know that your dentist can provide effective obstructive sleep apnea treatments? Whether you seek the help of a sleep specialist or your local dental professionals, there are plenty of OSA treatment options available to you.

At Samaritan Dental Arts, we provide the following obstructive sleep apnea treatment in downtown Los Angeles:

• Oral Appliances like a mouthguard can help maintain regular breathing and keep your mouth from closing during sleep.
• CPAP machine therapy, which is the most popular and common form of treatment for sleep apnea.
• Sleep hygiene therapy, which includes working with an expert to develop healthier sleeping habits
• Surgery, as a last-resort intervention to fix tissues in the throat and tongue.

Knowing whether you are at risk for sleep apnea can help determine what treatments and interventions are needed. If you have been previously diagnosed with depression, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, or acid reflux, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea as well.

If you sleep in bed with someone and they point out that you have been snoring a lot, this is one of the most prominent signs that you may have issues with sleep apnea. Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Zabolian right away so we can provide the best treatment possible.

Prevent Sleep Apnea Symptoms Today!

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that should be taken care of as soon as you suspect you are showing symptoms. Sleep apnea has a high chance of passing on through genes. Be sure to review your family history to see if any of them showed the signs.

Get started with your diagnosis and treatment options by contacting us online today. You can also give us a call at (213) 986-2933 to speak with a friendly representative. We look forward to helping you! We hope to help diagnose and treat your sleep apnea. Our office provides a range of dental treatments and procedures as well.