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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Donaldson on March 5, 2009 at 9:59pm

I can only asume that there could be a genetic link. I think that the construction of the throat could be a factor and all you need is some other issue such as extra weight, or scar tissue or something and then you have it. I do know that as you age it can worsen. In my case even though there is no proof, I blame mine on several years of constant sore throats during the winter season until they discovered an infection harboring under my rear lower wisdom teeth. When they were removed, no more sore throats, but sleep apnea soon after. So I often wonder if it's damage from that, which could have been a factor.My mother snored a lot, but died from cancer before anyone was thinking about apnea, so you never really know.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on March 5, 2009 at 10:15pm

Sleep apnea is an anatomic condition that's inherited. So if your mother or father had a big nose, there's a chance of inheriting a bog nose. If one or both your parents had small jaws, then you got your small jaws from your parents. Small jaws and dental crowding is what ultimately predisposes people to sleep apnea. It's not obesity—that's the end result. You could argue the small airways lead to a sleep-breathing problem that leads to obesity that presents later in life with sleep apnea.

There are other environmental factors as well: It's though that a major change in our diets to processed foods and refined sugars lead to even more dental crowding. Hundreds of years ago, especially in indigenous isolated cultures, they had wide jaws and perfectly straight teeth. Bottle-feeding, which is a modern, Western phenomenon, is thought to promote malocclusion and dental crowding. Even our ability to speak and have complex language is thought to predispose us to sleep-breathing problems. The human upper aerodigestive tract serves three functions: speech, swallowing and breathing. If speech overdevelops, then swallowing and breathing suffers. This is why only humans have so many breathing and swallowing problems.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Pf on March 5, 2009 at 10:41pm

Wow, very interesting. Small jaws and crowded teeth can contribute to sleep apnea -- I have crowded teeth but a rather blunt square jaw. I also have bruxism, and have worn a night guard to protect my teeth for years. (And two of my brothers are also teeth grinders, although not the same two as have sleep apnea.)

My father was never able to tolerate CPAP. They also tried a dental appliance -- I had to drive him to those endless appointments for the molds --- and he was not able to tolerate that, either.

Can sleep apnea contribute to the development of Parkinson's Disease? My dad had Parkinsons and ultimately died of pneumonia (complications of the immobility and swallowing problems from Parkinsons.) And my late grandfather -- dying of a heart attack in your sleep in your 50's could be related to sleep apnea, couldn't it?


Steven Y. Park, MD said:

Sleep apnea is an anatomic condition that's inherited. So if your mother or father had a big nose, there's a chance of inheriting a bog nose. If one or both your parents had small jaws, then you got your small jaws from your parents. Small jaws and dental crowding is what ultimately predisposes people to sleep apnea. It's not obesity—that's the end result. You could argue the small airways lead to a sleep-breathing problem that leads to obesity that presents later in life with sleep apnea.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 19, 2009 at 5:56pm

anne, on your question about Parkinson disease and sleep apnea, i think there's a link there that scientists are just beginning to explore. Dr. Park brought up the connection between sleep apnea and alzheimer's disease

Parkinson disease, like Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. there seems to be a big overlap of patients who have one of these diseases and sleep apnea.

Anne Pf said:

Wow, very interesting. Small jaws and crowded teeth can contribute to sleep apnea -- I have crowded teeth but a rather blunt square jaw. I also have bruxism, and have worn a night guard to protect my teeth for years. (And two of my brothers are also teeth grinders, although not the same two as have sleep apnea.)

My father was never able to tolerate CPAP. They also tried a dental appliance -- I had to drive him to those endless appointments for the molds --- and he was not able to tolerate that, either.

Can sleep apnea contribute to the development of Parkinson's Disease? My dad had Parkinsons and ultimately died of pneumonia (complications of the immobility and swallowing problems from Parkinsons.) And my late grandfather -- dying of a heart attack in your sleep in your 50's could be related to sleep apnea, couldn't it?


Steven Y. Park, MD said:

Sleep apnea is an anatomic condition that's inherited. So if your mother or father had a big nose, there's a chance of inheriting a bog nose. If one or both your parents had small jaws, then you got your small jaws from your parents. Small jaws and dental crowding is what ultimately predisposes people to sleep apnea. It's not obesity—that's the end result. You could argue the small airways lead to a sleep-breathing problem that leads to obesity that presents later in life with sleep apnea.

.

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