Dec 15, 2007 12:12 pm US/Central
Sleep Apnea Often Misdiagnosed In Women
Many Of 18 Million American Sufferers Are Women
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
For an estimated 18 million Americans, sleep isn't just difficult – it is potentially life-threatening.
They have sleep apnea, a medical condition that is more common in men, but still a concern for women.
Dr. Joyce Walsleben, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at New York University's School of Medicine and co-author of "A Woman's Guide to Sleep," explained on Saturday's CBS Early Show that many women are unaware that they have sleep apnea – a disorder in which the airway closes at points during the night, disrupting oxygen flow.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, trouble concentrating, morning headaches and excessive sleepiness, but many women are misdiagnosed, often because they're unaware they snore.
Dr. Walsleben recommends that women ask their sleep partners if they snore or, if they sleep alone, set a voice recorder before they go to bed to find out for sure.
A good night's sleep is critical for driver safety and weight control and general life performance and mood, Walsleben says.
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