More than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing. Untreated, sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, memory loss, obesity, and insulin resistance. Here's what sleep doctors say can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea or put people at risk for the disorder:
Weight gain. Excess pounds can bulk up tissues in and around the airway, making the airway more vulnerable to collapse as muscles relax during sleep. Likewise, heavier people tend to have thicker necks, which can also be a factor.
Alcohol, a muscle relaxant, can slacken throat tissues more than usual during sleep, making the airway more vulnerable to obstruction.
Medications. If you're taking muscle relaxants, you're going to expose yourself to greater snoring and sleep apnea. In addition, sleeping pills make it harder to wake from sleep, meaning an episode of sleep apnea can last longer.
Sleep position. Typically, sleeping on your back makes sleep apnea worse, and sleeping on your side makes it better.
Sleep deprivation. Your body craves the deepest kind of sleep when sleep deprived, and will launch into it to make up for lost time. But sleep apnea tends to be worse during that deep-sleep period, owing to its heightened state of relaxation.
Smoking. Cigarettes are direct irritants to the upper airway, and over time can make the area swell.
Anatomy. For some people, an anatomic abnormality may be the culprit. Enlarged tonsils, a deviated septum, or a smaller-than-normal airway can all result in sleep apnea.