We have known for a while that while sleep apnea seems to be more prevalent in men, there is a large demographic of women who are suffering from it. In fact, according to a study recently done in Australia, women are representing nearly 40% of newly diagnosed cases. And, unfortunately, research done over the past few years shows that sleep apnea can be extremely damaging to women, leading to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, brain and organ damage, and an overall increased risk of death, as well as causing complications in pregnancy and menopause.
The study states that 1 in 2 women between the ages of 20 and 70 live with sleep apnea, but, alarmingly, are usually either often diagnosed with something else, or with nothing at all. Because of the hidden dangers of sleep apnea, researchers are very concerned about the worrisome rate with which it is being misdiagnosed in women.
One of the frustrating things about this is that women tend to be on top of their health issues and want to get them taken care of, but often times, to no avail. According to the study, women are more likely to see a doctor about their sleep concerns than men; however, they are less likely to be referred to a sleep study than their male counterparts. This is one more reason why women need to continue taking charge of their health if they feel something isn’t right.
Ladies, the symptoms go beyond just exhaustion or fatigue. If you are suffering from any of the following – depression, weight gain, high blood pressure, morning headaches, waking up frequently overnight, having trouble falling asleep, having trouble going back to sleep, snoring, and even bouts of stopped breathing – then get yourself tested for sleep apnea. It’s actually super easy! You don’t need to go to a doctor or a sleep lab; you can get tested in the comfort of your own home in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost with a home sleep test.
Women, sleep apnea is on the rise among you, so if you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, please don’t just accept them as part of your life. The long-term health consequences of untreated sleep apnea are serious, so get yourself tested! The sooner you are, the sooner you can begin to treat your sleep apnea easily and effectively with a CPAP designed just for you.
Source: “Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea among women on rise: Study”. Yahoo!, October 21, 2014.
