Women Are More Likely To Develop Sleep Apnea But Less Likely To Get Diagnosed

Sleep apnea affects more than 42 million Americans. It is a condition that causes a person to stop breathing many times throughout the night. The signs of sleep apnea are usually far more subtle in women; therefore the condition often goes undiagnosed.

It can cause a person to snore loudly during their sleep, and that’s how it’s often first detected. Women often don’t snore as loudly, but they can still have significant sleep apnea. The most common symptoms in women are daytime fatigue and headaches.

Sleep apnea is dangerous; it increases a person’s risk of several serious diseases. According to Dr. Kelly Brown, assistant professor of neurology and sleep medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, up to 15 percent of women have undiagnosed sleep apnea. She also said fifty percent of patients with atrial fibrillation have untreated sleep apnea and about 50 to 70 percent of patients with stroke have sleep apnea.

Being overweight, consuming alcohol in the evening and having excess mucus in the nose and throat all raise the risk of sleep apnea. If you are experiencing significant fatigue, please see your doctor who can arrange the appropriate tests. In my experience, syndrome X (insulin resistance) is the biggest risk factor for sleep apnea. Berberine is my favorite remedy for reversing insulin resistance. It helps to improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.

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