Snoring is one of the biggest barriers to good sleep and well-being. Snoring isn’t a funny subject, but it could be a sign of a serious sleep disorder. You might have heard of women complaining about their partner’s annoying and loud snoring noises, but that doesn’t mean women don’t snore. It has been found that about 40% of men snore regularly but 24% of women are also frequent snorers. However, this gap closes and the rate of snoring for both men and women is same when they are almost to senior citizen status.
Women snore later in life
Nearly half of all middle aged men snore, but women tend to develop this breathing problem later in life with an increased prevalence after menopause at around 60-64 years of age. Menopause brings about a lot of hormonal, physical and psychological changes in them. The levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones released in the body declines during this phase, which results in the development of obstructive sleep apnea condition in women.
Same disease in men and women, different symptoms
Typical symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring are quite similar in both men and women, but women tend to present with additional symptoms with snoring issues such as fatigue, headache, lethargic, tension, and depression. These conditions often divert clinicians to diagnose and treat snoring women for other conditions.
Snoring, Hypothyroidism and Diabetes: The Connection
Diabetes has often been associated with snoring and sleep apnea, especially in overweight males. However, a study of women aged 25-79 years has found diabetes in snoring women, independent of their age. This simply means snoring women are likely to suffer from diabetes than non-snoring females. The symptoms of snoring & sleep apnea and hypothyroidism are similar. It has been statistically found that hypothyroidism in snoring women is higher than it is in men. Probably that’s why snoring and sleep apnea in women are misdiagnosed.
Snoring and Craniofacial Features
Snoring is caused by upper airway turbulence that causes vibrations of the soft palate and uvula. Men have significantly larger airways and pharynx than women; however, their pharynx is more prone to collapse. The airways of women are narrower and less likely to collapse. The airway muscles in women are protected from collapsing by female hormones. These hormones decline in postmenopausal women, which results in the development of sleep apnea and snoring problem.
Here’s What Snoring Women Can Do
There are a wide variety of options available to you. First of all, try sleeping on your side. Sleeping on your side position can completely stop snoring in some women. You can even do yoga, throat exercise, and lose weight. The next snoring solution is the newer anti snoring devices or snoring control products that you can easily buy online. Lots of women snore, so it’s not uncommon. What’s important is that you search your cost effective snoring treatment for snoring and take quick action.