If you have a snoring problem, you might be wondering if it can be passed on to your children. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. According to research published in the journal "Chest" children with at least one parent who snored are 3 times more likely to snore themselves (compared to children whose parents did not snore).



Snoring can also be a symptom of another problem known as OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. OSA causes a person's breathing to stop during sleep, due to their airway being obstructed.

Snoring is a sign of difficulty breathing, but it is breathing at least. OSA can cause the sufferer to stop breathing for periods of over 10 seconds while sleeping, which then causes them to wake up gasping and choking for air.

And the problem isn't only an issue at night. OSA can lead to headaches and sore throats in the morning, as well as a lack of concentration and general irritability due to lack of sleep.

If left untreated, OSA can lead to increased blood pressure, lower oxygen levels in the blood and an increased chance of heart attack and stroke.

In the study done by "Chest", 681 children from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital medical center were studied. The research also found that African-American children were about three times more likely to snore than other races.

And it was also found that kids who tested positively for Atopy (a sign of asthma and allergies) were twice as likely to develop a snoring problem.

This study helped the doctors to determine which children were more at risk of a snoring condition and other sleep disorders, giving them the chance to work closely with the parents to minimize the long-term effects.