It has been noted within the medical community for many years that women who are experiencing the symptoms of menopause often complain of poor sleep. So, here's the question: is this simply a menopause issue or can it be linked to a more severe disorder. The first thing that comes to mind, obviously, is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, but what is the connection? Hot flashes are already a problem themselves as they can cause cardiovascular issues, but obstructive sleep apnea can also lead to some serious issues. New studies have shown that there may indeed be a connection which indicates the need for a sleeping disorder test.

A Common and Growing Epidemic

Statistics have shown that up to 80% of women suffer from hot flashes, night sweats, or both. Research has definitively proven the link between hot flashes and sleep, but it has also been shown that it can be very difficult to determine whether the sleep issues are related to menopause or if they are the result of obstructive sleep apnea. While OSA is a more common problem in men, it should be noted that it becomes more of a problem as women age, gain weight, and progress further in their menopause. A recent study revealed that 53% of menopausal women suffered from restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, or both conditions at once.

Differing Symptoms Make Diagnosis Difficult

Unfortunately, men and women both experience obstructive sleep apnea differently and exhibit entirely different symptoms. For example, men will mostly snore during the night when they are experiencing obstructive sleep apnea, but women, on the other hand, will experience fatigue, anxiety, and even depression. Despite the obvious difficulties, diagnosis is critical because OSA can lead to many issues including:

• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• Hypertension
• Disease
• Death

It is reported that most women who suffer from OSA will be older and they will have a higher body mass index. It has also been noted that the condition is more common in women who are suffering from severe hot flashes in their mid-life, which is far different from those who are younger and suffering from mild or even no hot flashes.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

Insomnia symptoms can lead a much larger problem down the road but if you’re here reading this, then you don’t exactly need us to tell you that. Within the United States, there are currently 22 million individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea and a good portion of them are women. In either gender, the importance of taking care of the problem in the proper manner cannot be overstated which is why doctors recommend that testing is performed to determine whether or not the individual is suffering from OSA.

Typically the test will be performed in a sleep clinic via an overnight study, with most studies being performed in two parts. In a sleep lab study the first part of the test will consist of the individual being monitored during sleep without a mask The second part of the test usually involves a mask being placed upon the subject so that the technician can determine whether or not they sleep better with the CPAP or APAP machine engaged. Results are calculated and sent to the appropriate physician.

Doing it at Home

Sleep apnea tests are often performed at home now for several reasons. The first and most obvious reason is that technology has finally come far enough to allow us to do so. The second reason would be that many people are finding it extremely inconvenient to disrupt their day simply to undergo a sleep study. The technology used to perform a sleep study at home often comes in the form of a watch or an oximetry meter that attaches to the finger. No matter which type of test the individual is using, the results will be sent back to the sleep lab for appropriate diagnosis.

OSA has often been an issue in women but thanks to today’s technology we can finally start to diagnose it and begin administering the necessary treatment.

VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.