Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep:
- Memory improvements
- Decreased inflammation
- Sharper attention
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Decreased stress
- Increased ability to build muscle
- Clearer skin
Reduced risk of:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Migraines/headaches
Symptoms of Restless Sleep due to Sleep Apnea:
In men
Typical night time symptoms include persistent snoring, pauses in breathing during the night, restlessness during sleep. Sleepiness, morning headaches, and decreased concentration throughout the day are typical daytime symptoms. If left untreated, sleep apnea can begin to cause impotence, memory loss, impairment in thinking, and increased accident risk throughout the day. Males experience fewer mood related symptoms than women.
In women
Sleep apnea is typically observed in middle aged men, so when a woman is suffering from sleep apnea, her symptoms combined with her age may cause a doctor to misdiagnose.
Sleep apnea in women remains significantly under-diagnosed, which can cause long term health problems when untreated. Sleep apneic women are more likely to suffer from insomnia, morning headaches, irritability, and daytime fatigue. These symptoms of sleep apnea may be different than the classic “stand out” signs, and may cause doctors to think of other possible causes for these symptoms, such as depression.
Sleep apnea in women has been shown to affect the areas of the brain that regulate mood and decision making. Also, women benefit more from deep sleep than men. Therefore, when sleep apnea disrupts sleep cycles, the damage is usually greater.
References:
https://www.thesleepdoctor.com/2013/12/02/sleep-apnea-women-hearthealth/
By: Jennifer LaBombard