Does Menopause Raise Your Sleep Apnea Risk? What Women Should Know (NHLBI)
Does menopause raise your risk of sleep apnea? Yes, and it is one of the reasons the condition goes undiagnosed in women. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says women may be at increased risk during and after the menopause transition, in part because of hormone changes. The symptoms also look different from the classic picture: women more often report anxiety, daytime sleepiness, depression, morning headaches, insomnia, tiredness and frequent waking, rather than loud snoring. Because the usual red flag is absent, menopause-related insomnia, headaches and fatigue can hide the real problem. NHLBI's advice is to raise any of these symptoms or risk factors with a healthcare provider rather than assume they are simply perimenopause.
Where this fits: Your Perimenopause Insomnia Might Be Sleep Apnea
Claims this source supports
- Women may be at increased risk for sleep apnea during and after menopause, in part because of hormone changes.
- Sleep apnea symptoms in women are often different from men: anxiety, daytime sleepiness, depression, morning headaches, insomnia, tiredness, and frequent waking during sleep.
- Because women may not have classic symptoms such as loud snoring, they may not realize they have sleep apnea, and should talk to a provider about any of these symptoms or risk factors.
- Menopause-related insomnia, headaches, and fatigue can make it harder for a woman or her provider to recognize sleep apnea.