Get your site now Apnea and Menopause Recent research indicates that sleep apnea, often thought of more as a disorder of older men, is prevalent also in older women, especially those who have passed through menopause. Researchers in St. Michael's Hospital Sleep Laboratory in Toronto attribute this to a decrease in hormone levels. According to Dr. David Dancey, of St. Michael's, obesity and neck circumference are not the only cause of this increase in apnea. It must be remembered, also, that some younger women may be faced with menopause as well. For instance, a woman who has had breast cancer and undergone chemotherapy will often find herself in menopause.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes lapses in breathing during sleep.
This can occur many times an hour and last as long as sixty seconds or more. The lapses in breathing decrease the amount of oxygen in the blood and increase carbon dioxide. This causes severe stress to every part of the body, and, added to the stress created by the sudden start and gasp for air, can lead to hypertension, stroke and heart attack. Several symptoms suggest the possible presence of sleep apnea. First and foremost is loud snoring .