Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing periodically stops and resumes. Sounds scary right? Studies have shown that sleep apnea can even lead to death due to increased vulnerability to asthma, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, cancer, chronic kidney disease, cognitive and behavioural disorders, heart and blood vessel diseases, metabolic conditions, and even pregnancy-related complications.
According to a study published by the Sleep Research Society, untreated moderate to severe sleep apnea can lead to all-cause mortality, which means the risk of dying from any disease that can be caused by severely disrupted sleep. Sleep apnea affects women much differently than men. To understand the risk of this sleep disorder in women, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Sibasish Dey, Head of Medical Affairs, South Asia, ResMed.
Obstructive Sleep Apneoa In Women
“Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects men and women differently due to hormonal differences, anatomical variations, and distinctions in how the body regulates muscle tone and breathing,” said Dr Dey. He added, “The prevalence of OSA is higher in women with comorbidities such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cardiomyopathy, chronic hypertension (CHTN), and gestational hypertension (GHTN).”
One major risk factor that exacerbates the repercussions of OSA in women is underdiagnosis since OSA is more likely to go unnoticed in women than in males. “The prevalence of OSA increases 3.5 fold in postmenopausal women because of hormonal changes, changes in body weight distribution, and ageing-related muscle tone reduction. The risk of sleep apnea in women after menopause is the same as in men,” added Dr Dey.
OSA Symptoms In Women
Listing the signs and symptoms of OSA in women, he listed:
- Women have higher rates of Respiratory effort-related arousal, which according to the Sleep Foundation ‘are brief awakenings from sleep that happen after short periods of slowed breathing.’
- A higher rate of hypopnea, which is ‘10 seconds or more of shallow breathing in which a person's airflow drops by at least 30%,’ stated the Sleep Foundation.
- Women with OSA have lower rates of snoring, apnea, and oxygen desaturation in comparison to men.
- Women with OSA may also experience morning headaches, fatigue, cardiac palpitations, mood changes, anxiety, and depression.
- In addition, compared to men, women with sleep apnea typically experience milder and REM-related apneas and fewer apneic episodes per hour. This makes them more difficult to detect and notice by their bed partners.
Dr Dey shared, “Even in cases where women exhibit typical symptoms of OSA, they are less likely to be referred to a sleep clinic and may receive an inaccurate diagnosis for depression, hypothyroidism, or other conditions.”
He concluded that it is critical to raise awareness of women's distinct sleep apnea symptoms so that more individuals and their loved ones are mindful of the signs to keep an eye out for. To combat underdiagnosis, a woman should undergo routine screening for sleep apnea as part of her annual physical examinations.