Medical Edge Newspaper Column

Sleep Apnea Can Affect Men And Women, Overweight Or Thin

March 6, 2008
Dear Mayo Clinic:
I am a woman in my 60s, in good physical shape. Can I have obstructive sleep apnea?

Answer:
Yes, it's possible. A common stereotype of someone with sleep apnea is a man who carries excess weight and snores. The condition does occur more often in older adults, and obstructive sleep apnea is twice as common in men as in women. However, women increase their risk if they're overweight, and the risk appears to rise after menopause.

In obstructive sleep apnea, the throat becomes blocked during sleep and not enough air flows to the lungs. The blockage may occur when the throat muscles relax more than is normal during sleep or because of other factors such as extra fatty tissue in the throat (from being overweight) or a naturally smaller airway.

This blockage leads to hard and noisy breathing — snoring. Also, breathing may stop temporarily during sleep. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. Often, this waking is so brief that you don't remember it.

Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can cause many complications, including high blood pressure, which raises the risk of heart failure and stroke. The lack of quality sleep can affect your concentration and interfere with daytime activities.

Obstructive sleep apnea is treatable. You should talk with your doctor if you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep, abrupt awakening followed by shortness of breath, difficulty staying asleep or waking with a dry mouth, sore throat or morning headache. Your doctor may make an evaluation based on your symptoms or refer you to a sleep disorder center.

Treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea might include lifestyle changes, for example, quitting smoking, losing weight, avoiding alcohol, and sleeping on your sides. For moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, a continuous positive airway device (CPAP) can help by delivering pressurized air through a mask during sleep. For those who don't do well with a CPAP, a custom dental device that is worn at night to hold the jaw and tongue forward during sleep is an option. In some instances, nose, throat, or jaw surgery is recommended to try to open the airway.

— Eric Olson, M.D., Center for Sleep Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.