Medical Conditions

There are several medical conditions that are sleep apnea causes. Some cases are part of an underlying hormonal disorder, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) or acromegaly (excess bone growth due to oversecretion of growth hormone). Sleep apnea also occurs in some patients with Marfan syndrome, an inherited disorder in which anatomical structures that are built of connective tissue are very weak. The weakened airway in a patient with Marfan syndrome may collapse easily, impeding airflow.