A person's chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can depend on a number of factors, some of which are beyond their control. When these are combined with other potential causes such as being overweight, drinking or smoking it can greatly increase the risk.

One of the factors that is somewhat beyond our control is age. Sleep apnea is more common is people over the age of 30, with the highest percentages in males over 40 years old.

It is more commonly found among men than women. It is thought that between 12 and 20 million Americans are affected by sleep apnea, ranging from mild to severe. Breaking that down by gender, roughly 24% of American men suffer from sleep apnea compared to only 9% of women.

Post-menopausal women are more likely to be affected by it and the percentages between men and women become much closer after women have gone through menopause.

There have been many studies done to examine the difference between male and female sufferers. Some of these studies show that men are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, while other studies have shown them 5 to 6 times more likely to deal with it than women.

Genetics does play a part in sleep apnea but it is not really known how large a part. If you have a family history of sleep apnea - in either men or women - it is more likely that you will develop the disorder at some point in your life.

Race is another factor that appears to play a role. African Americans as well as Hispanics and Pacific Islanders are more likely to be afflicted than Caucasians. They are still affected by it but in lower percentages.

Any type of medical condition that affects your breathing can ultimately contribute to sleep apnea. Health conditions such as Marfan's syndrome or Down syndrome that can lead to abnormalities in the face and head - known as craniofacial problems - lead to a much greater chance of sleep apnea.