Sleep Apnea: Hidden Illness For Women Can Lead to Real Dangers
EmailABC News’ Claire Shipman, Catherine Cole and Matthew Rosenbaum report:
Cathy Rossi, 57, had never had never had trouble sleeping, but when she started experiencing mental blank outs on her morning drive to work she knew something was wrong.
“I was on my way to work and I was on one interstate and next thing I knew I was on another road and I had no idea where I was,” she said.
After a barrage of medical tests Rossi was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a diagnosis she initially had trouble accepting.
“I didn’t snore, I didn’t have any of the typical symptoms of sleep apnea,” she told ABC. ”Anytime you see anything on television…it’s always some big guy sawing logs.”
These are common misconceptions, according to Dr. Grace Pien, assistant professor at the Sleep Medicine Division of the Perelman School of Medicine. She told ABC News that sleep apnea was initially believed to be a disease that almost exclusively affected men, only rarely showing up in women. However, newer findings have refuted this, showing that for every two or three men who have the condition, roughly one woman is also affected.
According to Pien, the consequences of this misconception are evident. “The symptoms we think about with sleep apnea (such as snoring and daytime sleepiness) are those that were first described in men.”
Woman may have far subtler symptoms, such as headaches and fatigue, which lead to frequent misdiagnoses. ”Women oftentimes are worked up for other things, for hyperthyroidism, for inactive thyroid, or for depression or other types of medical conditions before somebody says oh, you know maybe this woman does have sleep apnea,” Pien said.
This is especially the case for menopausal woman. They are not only one of the most at-risk groups of women for developing sleep apnea, but they often write off the symptoms to the changes going on in their bodies. ”A woman might just think…it’s normal and maybe once I get through menopause this will get better and her doctor might actually think the same thing,” Pien said.
So what are the signs that a woman may have Sleep Apnea? Pien can point out a few. “During the day she might just feel run down, tired, fatigued, if she has a few minutes to herself she wants to doze off even if she did get a good night’s sleep the night before.” Other women “may notice that they wake themselves up feeling as if they are gasping for air or choking,” and they may “report that they wakened, but they’re not entirely sure what awakened them.”
Sleep apnea is associated with long-term health problems. According to Pien “We know that sleep apnea especially if it’s severe can increase the risk for having various types of heart disease including heart attacks and even dying from a heart related condition. There also appears to be an association with stroke.”
If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea “get it checked out,” advises Rossi, who after treatment tells ABC that she feels “like a whole new person.” “It doesn’t take that much to have a test done” she said ”Everybody owes it to themselves to have it checked out.”
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Being diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea has given me my life back. No more anti-depressants, no more restless legs, no more fatigue, no more naps, no more hazy thinking and back to a daily life filled with possibilities, plans and accomplishments.
Posted by: Catherine | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 6:23 pm
I was diagnosed with a mild form of sleep apnea in early 2011. I wear the mask every night and feel so much better than I used to. Thank you for talking about it on tonight’s broadcast so more women can be diagnosed.
Posted by: Nancy | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 6:59 pm
I have been using a C-PAP since July 2010, and never miss a night of sleep without it, unless I have an illness that prevents using it. I have more energy, clarity of mind, and a “will to live” again. Sadly, as I learned the health risks involved with sleep apnea that is untreated, I thought of my mom who passed away in 2007 from congestive heart failure. She had all the symptoms of sleep apnea, and no doctor ever inquired about her sleep patterns night/day. She had so many TIA’s and heart attacks, and seemingly bounced back from them with astounding strength and spirit, albeit with more damage to her heart and brain. Sleep apnea symptom inquiry should be part of a middle age woman’s well check to prevent this from happening to women.
Posted by: Julie | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 7:04 pm
My sleep apnea diagnosis made life so much easier. It’s been 6 years and I can honestly say I feel better. Any time I hear someone say they’re tired or don’t feel like they sleep at night, I always bring up the fact that they really may not bee sleeping at night. I also have fibromyalgia and sleep is an issue that many with this condition have to deal with. A CPAP is not all that attractive but I’ll take it any day/night of the week to get a good night’s sleep. Keep getting the word out.
Posted by: Elizabeth Harrison | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 7:15 pm
It took me over a year to be diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I am 50 yrs old and have a slim build. My doctor did not think I “fit” the profile of a Sleep Apnea patient. I was so physically exhausted that I would fall asleep at red lights on my way home from work. I could not function in my daily job, I would nod off during meetings. I wanted to die too. I begged my doctor to help me. I told him that no human being should be this exhausted, I wanted help ! If you feel like this everyday, please see your doctor and get a sleep test ordered, do not take no for an answer. This simple overnight test could save your life ! Thank you ABC for reporting on this very serious condition.
Posted by: Donna B. | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 7:34 pm
Honestly, I would be interested to know how many women diagnosed with Sleep Apnea are also over weight. I know that before I lost over 50 pounds I did exhibit symptoms. Once I took off 25 pounds my symptoms completely went away.
I noticed the women in the piece was not under weight. I do believe if more people (men as well as women) would find a way to loose weight there would be not reason for many of these devices. Not what the DME company would like to hear I’m sure. I’m not saying everyone. But seriously I would be interested to know some numbers. How many who suffer from sleep apnea are in normal weight range. I would be willing to bet the number is very low.
Posted by: Judith S. | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 9:13 pm
Good luck getting a diagnosis..it took me 4 years and a quarter million dollars. Now after 12 years on bipap I need a new respirator and cannot get one because I cannot sleep on my stomach with 200 wires hooked to me -yes that what the govt requires. American healthcare kills many and is nowhere near the best…Any lawyers out there -want to change the world? John
Posted by: john kirkman | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 10:12 pm
Food allergies are another major source of insomnia. Mine were missed due to medical trust in tests — but antihistamines did not clear my system in expected 48-72 hours, causing 25 years of false negatives after 1st test disgnosed them. When I stayed off antihistamines for 6 full days, they appeared again; another allergen, corn, is not tested for and is missed. Instead of correct diagnosis, patients get a slew of medical paranoid false accusations.
Posted by: Oklahoma Cowgirl | January 11, 2012 January 11, 2012, 11:19 pm
I was diagnosed last year with sleep apnea at the age of 40. I also have PCOS, which caused me to gain weight. I believe the apnea is from the weight gain and when I lose weight, I should lose the apnea. It is interesting though how I had to ‘fight’ with my doctor to refer me to a sleep clinic. I also diagnosed my PCOS. All the doctor’s kept saying was ‘lose weight’, because they couldn’t find anything else wrong! I brought my doctor a print out about PCOS, which I had ALL the symptoms of and finally an ultrasound was done. Just know your body and don’t give up.
Posted by: Tranell | January 12, 2012 January 12, 2012, 2:50 am
My boyfriend saw this piece and said it describes me to a T. I requested the sleep apnea test before I retired from the military and was refused. Now that I am in the VA system, I will ask,but I seriously doubt that it will be taken seriously. Their first answer is depression. Hopefully I will be able to get tested. Thanks for bringing this to light!
Posted by: Veronica | January 12, 2012 January 12, 2012, 8:20 am
I know for a fact I have sleep apnea but no one is helping me get that under control. I have epilepsy and seizures when I sleep and my crappy sleep quality is attributed to that. But lately especially I wake up choking and gasping for air, like someone’s been sitting on my throat, and get a rush of anxiety and fear. I’m only 33 and pretty skinny. I keep thinking it’s being brought on by my generic epilepsy meds because it’s been really pronounced since then. It’s scary stuff, I think sometimes I’ll die before waking up.
Posted by: Missy G | January 12, 2012 January 12, 2012, 2:59 pm
Sleep apnea? Maybe so, but I couldn’t possibly even THINK of sleeping with that device on my face. Maybe I’d be sleeping better, but sleeping with my hubby would just be OVER! How embarrassing!
Posted by: Karen K | January 12, 2012 January 12, 2012, 3:48 pm