No Mask Sleep Apnea

Conventional wisdom holds that sleep apnea is more of a problem amongst men, but research is suggesting that it is just as common amongst women. This gender bias may be because snoring is one of the more common signs of sleep apnea. But in actual fact sleep apnea is a serious problem that affects men and women of all races, and can affect children as well.

Uppsala and Umea University published a study in the European Respiratory Journal which suggests that sleep apnea (specifically obstructive sleep apnea) rates for women are almost as high as those for men. The study assessed 400 women from a sample of 10,000 from 20 to 70 years of age. If found that almost half of them had symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

The study also found that obstructive sleep apnea rates where higher in those who were obese or suffering from hypertension. This is consistent with other studies on the subject.

Under-diagnosis is a huge problem in sleep apnea, with many people thought to be suffering from it without knowing it. Given that sleep apnea is associated with so many health problems this is a big concern. Conditions associated with sleep apnea include heart attack, stoke, and hypertension. Consider undertaking a course of exercises to treat sleep apnea, otherwise CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) may be necessary.