Which physical appearance is commonly associated with sleep apnea?

• A. Underweight, long neck
• B. Wide-set eyes
• C. Overweight, short stocky neck, enlarged tonsils, adenoids and/or tongue
• D. Thin arms

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is recognizing what physical traits tend to go along with obstructive sleep apnea. OSA happens when the upper airway collapses during sleep, and excess soft tissue around the pharynx plus reduced airway size make this collapse more likely. Being overweight adds fat around the neck and throat, giving a short, thick neck that can constrict the airway. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can block the airway, especially in children, and a large tongue (macroglossia) can further obstruct the airway space.

So the best description is someone who is overweight with a short, stocky neck and has enlarged tonsils or adenoids and/or a large tongue, because these features directly relate to the airway narrowing that causes sleep apnea. The other physical descriptions listed don’t typically contribute to airway obstruction during sleep, so they’re not as consistent with sleep apnea.