Sleep Apnea and Women – Ignorance is Not Bliss.

For years, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) has generally been considered a men’s health issue. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, the ratio of men to women who come in to be evaluated for OSA is quite unbalanced.

For every one woman diagnosed with OSA, eight or nine men are diagnosed. However, while it is true that more men are affected by the condition, the ratio should be closer to two or three men per woman. Why the discrepancy? While women face unique risk factors for OSA, they often are misdiagnosed by physicians or avoid seeking treatment in the first place.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition characterized by complete and partial airway obstructions, which can occur when the tongue and muscles relax during sleep, the lower jaw falls back toward the throat or the airway becomes blocked.

A typical sequence of OSA occurs when a person stops snoring and is silent for seconds or minutes. The brain may cause the body to jerk in an attempt to wake the sleeper so breathing will resume. The silence may end with a loud snort, cough or gasp. This causes the sleeper to wake briefly and begin breathing. Once asleep again, the muscles relax and the airway becomes blocked once again. This cycle can occur hundreds of times per night. If left untreated, OSA may lead to heart attack, stroke and death.

However, while this represents a typical cycle of sleep apnea, the symptoms may present themselves differently in women. Women may not notice snoring or paused breathing, for example. Instead, they will often mention chronic insomnia, fatigue and depression, notes Dr. Grace Pien, in an interview with the National Sleep Foundation.

Because the more commonly known symptoms of OSA were described by nearly all-male populations, it is no surprise that women frequently express different complaints. These complaints often lead to a misdiagnosis by primary care physicians.

Misdisiagnosis of OSA common

According to the National Sleep Foundation, women suffering from OSA have been misdiagnosed with avathing from Anemia to Fibromyalgia to Menopausal changes. Furthermore, women are less likely to request a sleep study and are instead more inclined to ask for a medication to treat whatever symptoms they are experiencing.

While mava women do face misdiagnosis, a large number never seek medical care for their symptoms, especially if one of those symptoms is snoring.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, women are less likely to talk about their own sleep problems than those of their male partners. It seems that snoring is often stigmatized in women while it is considered relatively common and normal in men. As a result, mava women fail to bring up this and other sleep issues with their physicians.

The truth and nothing but…

Women should be talking openly and honestly with their doctors about their sleep, however. Factors specific to women such as menopause, pregnancy, and polycystic ovary syndrome can put them at greater risk for developing OSA. Additionally, OSA may impact women’s health differently than men’s.

A study conducted by the UCLA School of Nursing and published in the December 2012 issue of SLEEP, found that women suffering from OSA have a higher level of brain damage than men with the same disorder. Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation notes that OSA is linked to a higher risk of dementia in elderly women. Finally, OSA may exacerbate existing cardiovascular conditions, which can be especially problematic, considering heart disease is the number one killer of women.

If you are concerned you might have OSA, consider keeping a log of the symptoms you experience, including those that seem unrelated to your sleep, such as headaches, loss of libido, changes in mood or depression.

By speaking candidly about these symptoms with your physician and requesting a sleep study, you are more likely to get an accurate diagnosis.

Getting help with OSA

Treatment options for OSA include lifestyle changes, surgery, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Oral Appliance Therapy. While CPAP is one of the most common treatments for OSA, Oral Appliance Therapy has proven to be an effective, scientifically-based treatment alternative that patients may find more comfortable and easier to use.

The purpose of the appliance is to hold the jaw in a position that allows the airway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep. Oral appliances are similar to athletic mouth guards but less bulky and completely non-invasive. Oral sleep appliances are covered by most medical insurance plans and Medicare.

For more information and to schedule an appointment with a Koala Center for Sleep Disorders dentist near you click here.