Sleep Apnea’s Effect on Women - Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Chatsworth, Calabasas, Studio City, Sherman Oaks
Unfortunately, many people think that sleep apnea only affects men. This is not at all the case. Millions of women around the nation suffer from this disorder. Though the results of the condition are similar, there are some areas where women have been shown to exhibit more severe symptoms than men. In the case of both sexes, being overweight is one of the primary risk factors for sleep apnea. In severe cases, women, like men, may suffer many breathing pauses during a single hour, removing the opportunity for the body to rejuvenate from their sleeping hours.
Like men, women who suffer from sleep apnea are at serious risk of suffering major blows to their overall health. This condition is linked to cardiovascular disease. High blood-pressure is also a risk associated with this condition. Sleep apnea, in addition to sometimes being caused by obesity, can compound this problem, as well. In short, this condition can be life-threatening and merits immediate medical attention. If you’re a woman, you may notice pronounced manifestations of some of the symptoms of this disorder which, in some cases, can be more severe than they are in men.
People with sleep apnea act much as one would expect of someone who cannot get a good night’s sleep. One of the first symptoms of this is a diminished ability to concentrate. Oftentimes, those who suffer this disorder will start to doze off at any opportunity, oftentimes when they’re trying to focus their attention on a particular task. You may also noticed that you get severely irritable and, sometimes, explosively angry for no reason that you can figure out. The reason, of course, is that you’re exhausted and haven’t been afforded the luxury of a good night’s sleep, possibly in quite a while.
Women who suffer from sleep apnea sometimes see pronounced psychological effects. These include changes in personality. In some women, depressive symptoms may manifest. For women, this particular symptom oftentimes exhibits itself in the form of greatly reduced productivity. This symptom is more severe in women than in men, in many cases. A decreased libido is another symptom of sleep apnea and this may be more severe in women. Confusion is very commonly seen in individuals who suffer this condition, as is a constant state of lethargy which, obviously, can compound all of the above-described symptoms to an even more significant degree.
The treatments for this disorder are the same for women as they are for men. Most often, your doctor will recommend that you lose any extra pounds you may be carrying. Obesity and sleep apnea are frequently seen together and one can easily increase the severity of the other. Your doctor may recommend a CPAP machine that will ensure your airway is unobstructed during the night. You may also be recommended to visit a dentist. Dentists can provide specialized appliances that keep the soft tissues of the throat from collapsing back into the airway during the night.
To learn more about Sleep Apnea treatments and to find out if they are right for you, contact Smile Studio LA at 818-788-1352 today for a free consultation!
