The stigma that sleep apnea is a male disease isn’t just inaccurate, it’s harmful. Yes, statistically men face more severe symptoms, but sleep apnea is dangerous for anyone faced with the oxygen and sleep-depriving disease. The notion that sleep apnea is a male disease masculinizes it to the point that many women don’t seek help due to a fear of being seen as less feminine. Women suffer from sleep apnea too.
Gender-Related Differences in Sleep Apnea
[link id=’108′ text=’Obstructive sleep apnea‘ esc_html=’false’] (OSA) has traditionally been seen as a male disease. When most people think about the prototypical sleep apnea sufferer, they think of an older, overweight, man. This hypothetical person is at a higher risk for sleep apnea. Factors such as weight can obstruct the airway, age can loosen the soft tissue in the neck and cause snoring, and research has shown differences in the physical structure of the airway between men and women.
Men Are Diagnosed More
It’s true, but not the whole story. Many studies suggest that around 20 percent of the adult population suffers from sleep apnea. Of that 20 percent, 80-90 percent of them are undiagnosed. That’s a striking majority that leaves plenty of room for shifts in the way we understand who is most affected. Just because men are diagnosed more doesn’t mean they’re affected more. It means that more doctors have officially diagnosed them as having it.
Why Aren’t More Women Diagnosed?
This is the ultimate question and there are a few ways to look at the discrepancy.
- More men are in fact affected by sleep apnea
- Women are resistant to coming forward for fear of being seen as “manly”
- Men and women experience different symptoms, leaving women to be misdiagnosed
There seems to be a connection between theories two and three. The perception is that sleep apnea is something unique to men. This one misconception can spread as more people believe it. It can lead women to write off their symptoms as something else, avoid relaying their symptoms to a doctor, and can even subconsciously sway doctors to interpret differences in symptom presentation as different conditions.
Bottom Line: Sleep Apnea Is Dangerous No Matter Who Has It
One study published in the National Library of Medicine states that “The limited data available suggest that although the prevalence and severity of OSA may be lower in women than in men, the consequences of the disease are at least the same, if not worse for comparable degrees of severity.” If you’re struggling with sleep apnea symptoms or have any reason to believe that your airway is being obstructed while you sleep, schedule a consultation with Dr. Marzban by calling [link id=’50003′ text=’703-349-4277‘ esc_html=’false’].
