Is OSA hereditary in your family?

[Hannibal 2]

I was asking my son yesterday if he had noticed any symptoms that may indicate he has OSA, he said that he is a snorer and his partner had noticed him stop breathing, but only when he'd had a lot to drink. But of course our bed partners do not stay awake every night monitoring our sleep so who knows.

I told him he should get it checked out but he's playing it down a bit. I'm concerned because my grandfather and father both suffered massive strokes which killed them. I remember my father used to snore very loudly and I did too before I started CPAP therapy. I'm convinced that both had long term OSA, I of course cannot prove it but I feel the need to question my 3 adult children. They probably think I'm being neorotic but it's important.

Just wondered if anyone else is having similar concerns?

http://curemysleepapnea.com/sleepsource ... ereditary/

[nanwilson]

Yup!! Son has been on the hose for just over 3 years now and I'm sure my daughter has it too... but she refuses to accept any advice on the subject.
Nan

[Pugsy]

My brother has OSA. I have witnessed it when he was in the hospital and I was watching him sleep.
He has elected to go up the DeNile river.
My sister snores a bit but was tested and no real OSA and her fatigue symptoms that we thought was OSA ended up being related to her BP meds...she got the meds changed and felt hugely better.
My mother sometimes snores a little and I have watched her nap and I don't see any overt signs except minor snoring which of course doesn't mean much but I have watched her nap enough that I don't think she has OSA. Besides...she's 85 and has told me flat out that she isn't ever going to have a sleep study or wear a "damn mask". I am not entirely certain she even needs it so I don't push the issue.
My brother and I had World War III when I pushed him...I finally said "fine, go kill yourself, but if it comes up short and you need a diaper I won't be taking care of you".

If you can get your son to at least try your machine "to ease your mind" you can get a sort of idea if his snoring means OSA or not and should maybe pursue further evaluation. If you want more information on how to use your machine to screen him...let me know and I will share. It's not 100% perfect but it's better than nothing.

My daughter shows no signs of OSA...but she is still 10 years shy of when I started showing signs (thank you menopause for that additional little gift). I have watched her sleep for prolonged periods on the couch and I haven't spotted anything alarming.

My father died of cancer. Have no idea if he might have had OSA or not.

[chunkyfrog]

We could hear my father snoring from the other room.
He was moderately stocky, but not fat, and very active, working on ranches all his life.
Yes, he was a cowboy!
He died of a massive coronary at the tender age of 50, most of my uncles died younger--of heart attacks.
One brother of mine uses a cpap, the other probably should.
Since throat physiology is a major factor, it certainly seems to be hereditary.

[OkyDoky]

i'M certain my mother had Sleep Apnea but she had a stroke before that even came to my mind. This was before my diagnosis and then I wasn't aware of the significance of SA. She had all the medical conditions that goes with untreated SA.

I was required to get a sleep study for a CDL physical. I slept very soundly (make that passed out) after staying up into the early morning hours. I might have snored some but I just knew my sleep study would be negative. Suprise! And all of the symptoms that I was having, i didn't relate them to sleep apnea because I didn't realize what the symptoms were. And I didn't have a problem sleeping.

After I was treated and my symptoms much improved, I realized my son is following in my steps. As long as I can remember, he has snored and blamed it on a prior broken nose when he was a child that caused a deviated septum. He would fall asleep anytime he was still and always thought it was due to shift work, etc. I tried to stress the importance of treatment and I seemed to be ignored. I even bought a machine for him that sat in my closet. So, a few months later I found out he had been tested and started on a machine but was having the usual problems so he was not always using it. I gave him the machine I had so he could take his back and downloaded SleepyHead for him. Hoping this will help with long term use.

[49er]

Definitely! I strongly suspect mother and father had it. A sibling and some other relatives have it.

49er

[SewTired]

My family doesn't strictly have OSA but the need for a machine is caused by other factors, with the exception of my late Dad who SHOULD have had a machine. However, all his OSA went away after his heart attack, so that was kindof weird. My need for a machine will go away when I get a pacemaker. Bro has a machine due to lung compression (no AHI at all). Youngest sis HAD a machine until she had the deviated septum repaired - didn't need it after that. I have one sis that probably needs a machine, but won't consider one. My mom developed some symptoms of OSA, which is common among elderly. In her case, she sleeps on her side (physical therapy found better support for her) and the symptoms go away.

[edfreeman]

Brother and sister on the hose, my mother needs to be, as I watched her sleep while she recovered from a knee replacement, and watching her chest heave with no air moving, finally awakening with a gasp was very scary. Of course, she's 86 and is having none of that . . . she is on oxygen, though. My father (RIP) also had a need, as mom would comment on how she'd catch him not breathing for extended periods (up to a minute) and poke him to get him started again. I was "mild" but a heavy, loud snorer, now quiet as a mouse.

[Hannibal 2]

My brother and I had World War III when I pushed him...I finally said "fine, go kill yourself, but if it comes up short and you need a diaper I won't be taking care of you".

Haha, Brilliant response!

If you can get your son to at least try your machine "to ease your mind" you can get a sort of idea if his snoring means OSA or not and should maybe pursue further evaluation. If you want more information on how to use your machine to screen him...let me know and I will share. It's not 100% perfect but it's better than nothing.

I'll bare that in mind thank you, I only have my old 'S9 brick' as a spare so no data, but I will keep on his case until he agrees to go and get it checked! It will cost him nothing in the UK to at least do that.


Thanks everyone for the responses so far, it seems like there's some evidence growing here to support the theory.

[Pugsy]

If he would agree to use the machine for one night...you would go back to your brick and let him borrow the new machine for one night.
Sometimes that's easier to get someone to agree to than going the other way even if it is all covered under your NHS plan.

[Hannibal 2]

If he would agree to use the machine for one night...you would go back to your brick and let him borrow the new machine for one night.
Sometimes that's easier to get someone to agree to than going the other way even if it is all covered under your NHS plan.

True, but it could take some time to get used to wearing a mask long enough, and also I cannot see him agreeing to using anything but a new mask, he's a bit OCD about things like that

[Pugsy]

True, but it could take some time to get used to wearing a mask long enough, and also I cannot see him agreeing to using anything but a new mask, he's a bit OCD about things like that

Well... I have a saying...beggars can't be choosers. The new mask thing is easily fixed...you just save a new pillow or cushion or whatever.

Your son isn't motivated enough...he doesn't care and until he gets motivated he's going to keep throwing up excuses.

I have a friend...another woman who snores like a freight train and her husband has witnessed her stopping breathing and she has to get up to pee 4 or 5 times a night...pretty classic OSA.
I offered my spare machine which she agreed to do one night after a few beers but once she sobered up she has elected to keep putting it off. She put off the sleep study she had scheduled...she put off my bringing my machine over for her to try....she's not ready and nothing anyone can do about it.
You can't force someone to do something they don't want to do.

[Hannibal 2]

True, but it could take some time to get used to wearing a mask long enough, and also I cannot see him agreeing to using anything but a new mask, he's a bit OCD about things like that

Well... I have a saying...beggars can't be choosers. .......

......You can't force someone to do something they don't want to do.

No it's tricky, wearing a mask to bed takes a bit of getting used to, Mentally before physically I think, especially if you're fairly young (31), I will keep on his case though, his partner's father has OSA too so maybe some leverage there if I talk to her about my concerns. I need to interrogate my youngest son yet too, and my daughter.

[D.H.]

Yes, brother and nephew have it! Also, I think my grandfather - who died before anybody ever heard of CPAP - had it and that was the cause of his bad heart and borderline diabetes (and earlier than necessary demise).

[Okie bipap]

I finally got my wife on a machine. When we had our last physical, I told our doctor that she would stop breathing while sleeping and would often snore loudly. The doctor scheduled my wife for her sleep study. She is now using my back up machine for a month to see if the central apneas will clear up. If not, they say she will need to get an ASV machine.