Who is prone to sleep apnea?

Depending on the cause of apnea, sleep apnea is classified into three types: obstructive, central, and mixed, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common.

Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in middle-aged men, with the incidence rate in men being about 2 to 8 times that in women. In addition, people who are overweight, have a large neck circumference, a small jaw, or poor lifestyle habits are more likely to develop sleep apnea.

If you have any of the following characteristics or symptoms, you may be at high risk for sleep apnea! We recommend that you consult a sleep specialist.

• Middle-aged men and postmenopausal women
• Overweight (BMI > 28)
• Excessively large neck circumference (men > 43cm, women > 38cm)
• Receding or small jaw
• Short neck
• Thick tongue base
• Special medical conditions (e.g., Down syndrome)