Genes and obesity in sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing while they are sleeping. These pauses in breathing can disturb sleep. Many people with sleep apnea also snore. These things can cause a person to be very sleepy during the day. People with sleep apnea often have high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Sleep apnea is most common in people who are overweight or obese. But we don’t know if obesity is the main cause of sleep apnea. Scientists suspect genes may also be involved, even if a person is not obese. In this project, researchers will search for genes linked to sleep apnea. The results will help us understand what causes sleep apnea and how to better treat it.