Risk Factor of Snoring

The primary risk factor for OSA is excessive weight gain. The accumulation of fat on the sides of the upper airway causes it to become narrow and predisposed to closure when the muscles relax.

Age is another prominent risk factor. Loss of muscle mass is a common consequence of the aging process. If muscle mass decreases in the airway, it may be replaced with fat, leaving the airway narrow and soft.

Other predisposing factors associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea include:

• sleeping pill or alcohol at bed time (they reduce the activity of the upper airway dilating muscles to a point where the airway collapses & becomes obstructed)
• nasal congestion from cold and allergies, especially it last a long time
• enlarged adenoid and tonsils that block the airway (main cause in children)
• smoking (cause inflammation,swelling and narrowing of the upper airway)
• Hypothyroidism, acromegaly, amyloidosis, vocal cord paralysis, post polio syndrome, neuromuscular disorder, Marfan's syndrome and Down syndrome

Men also has a greater risk as male hormone can change the structure of airway.

Contributed by Lawrence Oh