"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), once framed as a disorder primarily affecting older, heavier men, is increasingly recognized as a far more complex and often undetected condition, particularly in women navigating perimenopause and menopause. OSA occurs when the upper airway narrows or collapses during sleep, oxygen levels dip, and the brain briefly rouses the body to restart breathing."
"A recent projection in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal suggests the problem is far bigger-and more female-than once thought. Researchers estimate that by 2050 nearly 77 million US adults aged 30 to 69 will have OSA, including a 65 percent relative increase in prevalence among women, to around 30.4 million, compared with a 19 percent relative increase among men."
"It is a condition that often lives in anonymity. Most people don't realize they have it, because you're asleep when it happens. While over a billion people in the world have sleep apnea, in some countries as many as 90 percent are undiagnosed and untreated."
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has long been characterized as a condition primarily affecting older, heavier men, but emerging research reveals it is significantly more common in women, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. OSA occurs when the upper airway narrows or collapses during sleep, causing oxygen levels to drop and the brain to briefly rouse the body to restart breathing. Recent projections estimate that by 2050, nearly 77 million US adults aged 30 to 69 will have OSA, including a 65 percent increase in prevalence among women compared to 19 percent among men. The condition is increasingly recognized as heterogeneous, shaped by different biological mechanisms and symptom patterns. However, the traditional male archetype continues to influence diagnostic practices, leading to widespread underdiagnosis. Globally, as many as 90 percent of sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed and untreated because symptoms occur during sleep.
Read at WIRED
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