--- title: "Sleep Apnea: It's Not Just Middle-Aged Men" description: Sleep apnea isn't just a man's problem--a new study shows that it is prevalent in women and people of all ages. image: https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/file-2155975135-jpg/images/men-and-women-sleep-apnea.jpg --- **[![ASMS_logo_shadow_round](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ASMS_logo_shadow_round.png?width=200&name=ASMS_logo_shadow_round.png "ASMS_logo_shadow_round")](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/)** **Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc.** The Sleep Experts`®` (877) 775-3377 ## Sleep Better, Live Better Blog ### *We believe that education is the first step to finding better sleep. Our articles educate people on sleep news, sleep disorders, and sleep care to help them achieve better health and live better lives. * *Thanks for joining the conversation.* ## [Sleep Apnea: It's Not Just Middle-Aged Men](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/sleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men) Posted by [Julia Steele Rodriguez](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/author/julia-steele-rodriguez) Find me on: [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/julia.steele818) [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/in/juliasteele) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/juliasteelerod) Nov 30, 2014 8:00:00 AM ![men-and-women-sleep-apnea](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/file-2155975135-jpg/images/men-and-women-sleep-apnea.jpg) Medical science and medical professionals used to think that [sleep apnea](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/types) was a disorder that only affected older, obese men, but recent studies have proven that to be a misconception. **Sleep apnea can affect anyone** from age 2 to 102 and beyond, regardless of one’s sex or weight. In a [recent Swedish study](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/10/study-half-women-may-have-sleep-apnea/), 400 adult women between the ages of 20 and 70 were monitored overnight for sleep apnea. The study defined the condition as having at least 5 episodes during an hour in which a person stopped breathing for ten seconds or longer. For a case to be considered severe, a person must stop breathing for at least ten seconds a minimum of 30 times per hour. **The study found that half of the women had mild to severe sleep apnea. ** Another significant finding was that among women who either had [hypertension](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/sleepbetterblog/using-a-cpap-machine-reduces-blood-pressure) or were obese, 84% were found to have the disorder. Sleep apnea becomes more prevalent with age in both men and women, affecting about 25% of people over 65 regardless of weight, blood pressure or other potential contributing factors. In the Swedish study, before the age of 44, 25% of women tested positive for apnea; between the ages of 45 and 54, 56% tested positive and among women between 55 and 70, 75% had the condition. Women with sleep apnea are likely to voice different kinds of complaints than men do. The most frequent symptoms with men are feeling excessively sleepy during daytime hours, loud snoring and awakening with a sore throat or headache. Women, on the other hand, experience more chronic [fatigue](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/sleepbetterblog/world-cup-fan-dies-of-sleep-deprivation-how-dangerous-is-it), depression and insomnia. Since these symptoms aren’t considered to be commonly associated with sleep apnea, **[women are frequently misdiagnosed](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/sleepbetterblog/sleep-apnea-in-women-and-why-its-underdiagnosed)**. Unlike some conditions that resolve themselves with time, sleep apnea actually gets worse, and one study found that women are at greater risk than men of developing dementia and memory problems. These statistics are presented to point out how prevalent sleep apnea actually is—much more so than previously thought--and how diverse risk factors can be. Ultimately, the only way to test for sure if you have sleep apnea is to have a sleep study--either a [Home Sleep Test](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/home-sleep-testing) or an [in-lab test](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/sleep-studies)--to see if you are experiencing apneas. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms noted above, see your doctor and [contact us](http://www.sleepdr.com/contact). We'll do definitive testing and get you back to feeling like yourself again.  **Do you know any women suffering from sleep apnea? Are you surprised by these statistics? Comment and let us know what you think of this new study!** Related Posts: [Sleep Apnea in Women, and Why It's Underdiagnosed](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/sleepbetterblog/sleep-apnea-in-women-and-why-its-underdiagnosed) Topics: [Sleep Apnea](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-apnea), [Women and Sleep](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/women-and-sleep) ## Share this blog post: [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Sleep%20Apnea%3A%20It%27s%20Not%20Just%20Middle-Aged%20Men) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2F299691.hs-sites-na2.com%2Fblog%2Fsleep-apnea-not-just-middle-aged-men%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### Subscribe to Email Updates Search our blog Search ### Posts by Topic - [Children and Sleep (1)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/children-and-sleep) - [Coffee (1)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/coffee) - [CPAP Alternatives (2)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/cpap-alternatives) - [CPAP Supplies (9)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/cpap-supplies) - [CPAP Treatment (25)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/cpap-treatment) - [Diabetes (2)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/diabetes) - [Doctor's Opinion (4)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/doctors-opinion) - [Economics of Sleep Medicine (15)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/economics-of-sleep-medicine) - [Good Sleep Habits (59)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/good-sleep-habits) - [Health Insurance (20)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/health-insurance) - [Heart Disease (2)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/heart-disease) - [Insomnia (2)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/insomnia) - [Job-Related Sleep Disorders (7)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/job-related-sleep-disorders) - [Kids and Sleep (20)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/kids-and-sleep) - [Narcolepsy (1)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/narcolepsy) - [Preparing for your sleep study (2)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/preparing-for-your-sleep-study) - [Sex and Sleep (7)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sex-and-sleep) - [Sleep and Exercise (1)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-and-exercise) - [Sleep and Society (41)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-and-society) - [Sleep Apnea (60)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-apnea) - [Sleep Business (3)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-business) - [Sleep Disorders (30)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-disorders) - [Sleep Studies (30)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/sleep-studies) - [Telemedicine (1)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/telemedicine) - [Treating Sleep Apnea (29)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/treating-sleep-apnea) - [Women and Sleep (14)](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/blog/topic/women-and-sleep) ### Most viewed posts ### Recent Posts **Contact Us:** Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc. Corporate Office 17835 Ventura Blvd. Suite 300 Encino, CA 91316 Phone (877) 775-3377 Fax (877) 855-6227  [info@sleepdr.com](mailto:info@sleepdr.com) ## **Top Links:** [Frequently asked questions (FAQs) ](http://www.sleepdr.com/frequently-asked-questions)[Download Service Request Form (Rx) ](http://www.sleepdr.com/service_request_form)[Request medical records ](http://www.sleepdr.com/request-medical-records)[See a complete list of locations ](http://www.sleepdr.com/locations)[Schedule an appointment ](http://www.sleepdr.com/schedule)[Sleep Better, Live Better Blog ](http://www.sleepdr.com/sleepbetterblog)[Contact us](http://www.sleepdr.com/contact) **About Us:** Our mission is to empower sufferers of sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, to lead more fulfilling lives by improving their sleep. We believe that by caring for and educating our patients and diagnosing and treating their sleep disorders we can help them achieve better health. With 20 locations across California, we are the leading provider of in-center and in-home (HST) sleep studies, PAP therapeutic devices, and replacement PAP supplies. We are contracted with more than 300 medical groups and commercial health plans. We partner with independent physicians who are at the forefront of the field of sleep medicine and together we provide high-quality, affordable, result-oriented and patient-centric diagnostic and therapeutic sleep medicine services. We strive to make all our interactions with patients, referring physicians, coworkers, and others courteous, caring and professional and we consider each interaction with our patients as an opportunity to live up to our commitment to the highest standards of patient care.  ### Subscribe to our blog: [![Twitter link](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/twitter-865437-edited.png "Twitter link")](https://twitter.com/mysleepdr)[![Facebook link](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/facebook-square-750598-edited.png "Facebook link")](https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedSleepMedicine)[![LinkedIn link](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/linkedin-815276-edited.png "LinkedIn link")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-sleep-medicine-services-inc) ## Original photos by Francisco Crow [www.fc-images.net](http://www.fc-images.net) All rights reserved. Our administrative offices AND sleep centers will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2016 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.