Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Study Finds Sleep Apnea Symptoms More Pronounced, Harder to Detect in Women

New research conducted by the UCLA School of Nursing found that some of the ill health effects caused by sleep apnea can be a “hidden,” but very real, danger to women. If you’re concerned about how sleep apnea symptoms could affect your overall health, it’s important to seek early treatment from a qualified sleep doctor.

The UCLA researchers measured the heart rate of male and female sleep apnea patients after a series of physical tests. Though both the men and women with sleep apnea who participated in the study exhibited weakness and delay of heart rate in response to exertion, the effect was more apparent in the female participants than their male counterparts.

Paradoxically, though the impact of sleep apnea symptoms in women is more severe than men, the symptoms themselves are also subtle and more difficult to detect. Assessing both the increased severity of symptoms and difficulty of diagnosis, the UCLA team stressed the importance of early detection and treatment for women with sleep apnea.

The researchers noted that a woman with sleep apnea can appear healthy, making misdiagnosis more likely. Failure to catch sleep apnea early in women could increase the risk for heart disease and other conditions where the body struggles to adapt to everyday activities.

To find out more about sleep apnea symptoms, early diagnosis, and treatment, please contact asleep doctor in your area or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) today.

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