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Category: SleepClinical Profile

Sleep Apnea

Brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, often unnoticed by you but profoundly damaging to sleep quality.

Biological Mechanism

Postmenopausal women have a significantly higher incidence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Estrogen and progesterone influence airway muscle tone and respiratory drive. As these decline, the airway becomes more prone to collapse during sleep, even in women with normal BMI.

Common Misdiagnoses

Primary insomnia, Treatment-resistant night sweats, Chronic fatigue

Evidence-Based Treatments

  • 01CPAP Therapy

    Gold standard structural treatment.

  • 02HRT

    May have mildly protective effects on airway tone, but not a replacement for CPAP.