My father has sleep apnea. I am a heavy sleeper, quick to fall asleep and extremely difficult to wake up. I do not know if I stop breathing. I have low energy levels throughout the day. I ask this because a friend of mine works as a doctor's office manager, and she said it sounds like sleep apnea. I am waiting on medical insurance before I find a doctor to go to. If anyone knows anything about the sleep apnea or heavy sleeping, and can give some input, it would be greatly appreciated.
2006-12-17 17:14:57 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
IT COULD BE INHERITED...
2006-12-17 17:17:20 · answer #1 · answered by FlyingHi007 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I also have sleep apnea. From what I have learned, it can be hereditary, I think basically because the structural abnormalities that can cause sleep apnea can be hereditary. For example, you and your father may have extra tissue in your throat wich closes your airway when you are laying down. However, I have sleep apnea, but no one else in my family has any symptoms. I'm absolutely not in the typical demographice (middle-aged and overweight and male) for this (I'm 26, 5'6", 125 pounds, and female). I also have never snored and I never remembered waking during the night gasping like some people say. The only thing similar to waking to breath was once in a while and take a really deep breath and my chest felt like I had been holding my breath. My symptoms that I originally asked the doc about were my horrible memory (I would drive 30 miles to work and not remember how I got there, once I even went to work all day, came home at night and almost went back because I thought it was morning, I forgot the entire day), dozing at work, forgetting appointments, exhaustion, irritability, etc. However, there are many other things it could be (hormonal problems, other sleep problems, etc.)
2006-12-18 03:36:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lady in Red 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one can tell you if what you have is hereditary until you've been diagnosed. There is sleep apnea and there there is obstructive sleep apnea and both have different causes. If what you told us is exactly what you told your friend, then based on this I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you have sleep apnea. One symptom that apneics seem to have in common is loud, persistent snoring. Some wake up during the night gasping for air or experiencing a choking sensation. Besides daytime fatigue, falling asleep during the day is another sign. As you stated, you don't know if you have breathing cessation.
Once you can see a doctor, I hope she/he will refer you to a Board Certified Sleep Specialist who can order a sleep study (polysomnography). This will determine whether you have SA or OSA and to what degree.
2006-12-17 17:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleep apnea is not inherited. Waiting on medical insurance before getting tested is not a good idea. If you have it you need treatment now so see the doc and get tested. Why wait for something serious to happen.
2006-12-17 17:18:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It certainly could be - if the apnea was due to anatomy that was likely to cause the airway to collapse.
Certainly if your neck size is over 18" then you're at much higher risk of having sleep apnea.
I can say that my father - though he refused to be tested - has sleep apnea. I am more similar to him, and I have apnea.
2006-12-17 17:32:49 · answer #5 · answered by Connie R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly don't know for sure if apnea is inherrited, but I am inclined to think it is.
Snoring is an important component.
You need to have a sleep study done. Apnia can be lethal.
For now, Try WEBMD.com
2006-12-17 17:25:01 · answer #6 · answered by Norton N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea... there seems to be a link with asthma and genetics... and since asthma and apnea go hand in hand.. it's possible to inherit it..
2006-12-17 17:17:41 · answer #7 · answered by blahh 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋