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menopause and sleep apnea

Women in Menopause may be at Risk of Developing Sleep Apnea

Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI

Sleep apnea has long since been believed to occur most often in middle-aged men that are overweight. But that doesn’t mean women aren’t at risk of sleep apnea. In fact, as menopause approaches, the risk for the condition starts to rise. You may wonder how menopause impacts women’s snoring and sleep apnea risks. Additionally, you may be curious about which signs of menopause, hormonal changes, or just “growing older” may be caused by obstructive sleep apnea. So, our Okemos dentist that treats sleep apnea, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, shares on the blog today why women in menopause may be at risk of developing sleep apnea and what you can do to minimize your risks.

What is menopause?

Menopause is the term used to describe the era of a woman’s life when she has not had a period for 12 months. Our Lansing sleep apnea dentist explains that when the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, it signifies the end of fertility. The average age at which menopause begins in the United States is 51 years old and can begin in some women as young as 40 or as old as 55. Women typically experience menopause at the same time as their mothers or sisters.

What menopause and sleep apnea symptoms overlap?

Menopause and sleep apnea symptoms may seem the same and include the following possibilities

  • Weight gain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Memory loss or poor concentration
  • Sexual discomfort or decreased interest
  • Irregular periods in frequency or intensity
  • Trouble sleeping from night sweats or insomnia
  • Mood swings or changes that include tearfulness or irritability
  • Urinary and vaginal problems, including dryness, incontinence, or infections
  • Hot flashes or hot flushes where you feel warm have skin redness and sweat

Many of these symptoms might also be caused by sleep problems. Insomnia can manifest as difficulty falling or staying asleep at night. Obstructive sleep apnea may also cause frequent nightly awakenings. Our dentist that treats sleep apnea in East Lansing explains that sleep apnea can cause cognitive issues like poor attention or difficulties with short-term memory. It can also cause night sweats, daytime tiredness, or depression. Due to this overlap, it’s crucial to be aware of any potential new sleep apnea symptoms.

What are the additional symptoms of sleep apnea?

The most frequent symptoms of sleep apnea are periods of gasping or choking, loud snoring, and observed breathing pauses. Even if these are not seen, sleep-disordered breathing may still be taking place. Unfortunately, these nocturnal activities disrupt your sleep cycle, which can result in restless sleep, daytime tiredness, and naps. Our Okemos sleep apnea dentist explains that nighttime dry mouth, teeth grinding or clenching, and frequent urination are also symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can also worsen as we age due to weight increase and muscle loss. Fortunately, effective therapies can help manage your sleep apnea and help you sleep better.

How does menopause increase sleep apnea risks?

Before menopause begins, women are protected by higher amounts of estrogen and progesterone. Our dentist that treats sleep apnea in Lansing explains that the airway’s muscles are kept taut by these hormones, which prevent the airway from collapsing. But when these levels fall throughout perimenopause and reach their lowest points during menopause, the prevalence of sleep apnea rises. According to the research on women in various age groups, the prevalence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI >15 episodes per hour) rose from 0.6 percent in those aged 20 to 44 to 2 percent in those aged 45 to 64 and 7 percent in those aged 61 to 100. Pre-menopausal women had the lowest prevalence of sleep apnea (0.6%), followed by post-menopausal women receiving hormone replacement treatment (1.1%) and post-menopausal women not receiving hormone treatment (5.5%).

Sleep Apnea in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI

You should talk to Dr. Tenaglia about obtaining a thorough assessment if you are worried that some of your menopausal symptoms may be caused by sleep apnea. Getting a diagnosis through a sleep study and speaking with a sleep specialist can be beneficial. Our East Lansing sleep apnea dentist can happily recommend a sleep physician to fit you for a custom oral appliance to manage your sleep apnea efficiently and comfortably. Please call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 or contact us online to schedule your sleep apnea consultation today.

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