Snoring may sound like a regular sleeping habit for men. But, did you know that women also have the same percentage for risk factors that sleep apnea makes? The symptoms can even be just as dangerous for every patient, regardless of age or sex. A patient with a sleeping disorder can book a consultation at their nearest hospital or a sleep doctor clinic. However, initial consultation for breathing or sleeping disorders may be done by a general physician as well. Hospice patients may also be vulnerable to these signs. Discover the other factors that influence sleep apnea symptoms in women.
Sleep Apnea Is A Crucial Health Risk
Everyone is a target of sleep apnea. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, about 38, 000 people die from complications of sleep apnea. What’s even more alarming is that 22 million Americans suffer from this breathing and sleeping disorder. While it is true that people don’t die directly from sleep apnea, issues like heart attack, asphyxiation and stroke can follow. How do you prevent yourself from falling into this adverse disease? Find out your symptoms as early as possible. Your doctor can provide services that may help your breathing or sleeping at night.
What Are The Sleep Apnea Symptoms In Women?
Many people can experience the issue of sleep apnea that may even be overlooked. Several sleep apnea symptoms in women can also be subtle, which usually makes it hard to diagnose. However, the similarities between men and women’s snoring and sleep disorders are not far from each other. You may see yourself snoring as loud as your husband if you neglect the early symptoms. Moreover, you can also suffer from chronic migraines, heart palpitation, and other diseases.
- Irritability In The Morning
- Headaches That Leads To Severe Migraine
- Dry Mouth
- Snorting
- Gasping For Air In The Middle Of The Night
- Difficulty In Staying Asleep (Insomnia)
- Heartburn During Sleep
- Forgetfulness
- Increase In Stress And Depression
How Common Is Sleep Apnea In Women?
The statistics for women having issues in breathing today may have changed as earlier studies suggest that men may likely have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) nine times higher. However, a recent study shows that at least 9 per cent as of 2016 has mild OSA while 4 percent experience moderate to severe apnea. Seemingly, the wide gap is thinning as more environmental, physical, and dental health conditions are developing through lifestyle and unhealthy habits. Even mental health has a massive toll for adults and women with anxiety, undiagnosed depressive disorders, and risks in unmanaged stress. If you are a woman looking for a better way to address your symptoms, visit a hospital or a sleep doctor for your obstructive sleep apnea.
Is Sleep Apnea For Women Different For Men?
A category sleep apnea that both women and men experience is obstructive sleep apnea. This form of sleep apnea is more common for individuals as it involves the relaxing of the soft palate in the tonsils or the uvula. It blocks the airway where the oxygen is inhaled and decreases its intake. On the other hand, carbon dioxide builds up in the bloodstream, which is toxic to the body. Ultimately, any form of sleep apnea, whether it is obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea is dangerous for the lungs, heart, and brain.
5 Risk Factors That Increase Sleep Apnea (For Women)
Notably, women in hospice can also have increased chances of complications caused by sleep apnea. Furthermore, issues of recurring stroke and chronic fatigue for hospice may be a trigger for these factors. Hence, if you want to provide pain relief, you may have to read along for the treatments as indicated by the end of this article.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a disease with many causes and reasons. Women tend to have higher risks of hypothyroidism due to the hormonal imbalances. The job of the thyroid is to secret hormones in the blood that help produce energy and warmth. Bodyweight and neck size are two issues that hyperthyroidism. Obese people or women who have thicker throat and neck size tend to have narrow airway passages. Lack of exercise, improper diet and damage in the pituitary glands are a few issues that women deal with for hypothyroidism.
Menopausal stage
A woman with menopause may also be susceptible to a higher chance of getting OSA. The levels of estrogen and progesterone can affect keeping the airway on the throat open. Hence, if a condition such as aging and menopause comes, sleep apnea symptoms in women are more likely to happen too.
Chronic Fatigue
If you’re feeling tired and the side effects don’t go away for more than six months, it is possible that you already have chronic fatigue. Nasal tissue can collapse more frequently with unmanaged tiredness and fatigue.
Pregnancy and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
Apart from observing that age-related health concerns can affect obstructive sleep apnea, younger women are also prone to this sleep disorder. Pregnancy and PCOS go hand in hand as a risk factor for acquiring obstructive sleep apnea. There is an overlap of comorbidities in having polycystic ovarian syndrome, sleep apnea, and diabetes. Early prevention can be possible through BMI tests at an OB-GYNE.
Stigma And Neglect Of Symptoms
One issue that women face every day is the stereotype of thinking snoring is disgusting for women. This stigma leads to the neglect of the symptoms without looking at the medical aspect of the disease. Women must look beyond these social issues and have more concern about the medical and dental conditions that obstructive breathing can do for their body.
What Is The Treatment For Sleep Apnea In Women?
The differences between the types of sleep apnea may not matter once you already see that your symptoms are getting worse. Yet, the good news about modern medical and dental advancements are achievable today. That said, you may find a doctor in both medicine and dentistry to offer treatments in sleep apnea. Currently, dental procedures like mouthguards or CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) are available. But, there are advancements in obstructive sleep apnea treatments that can give a better promise for both women and men.
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