Menopause May Influence Sleep Disorders

Women going through menopause mayexperience sleep disorders such as snoringand sleep apnea. A study conducted bythe Department of Population Health Sciencesat the University of Wisconsin-Madisonlooked at menopause and its potentialas a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing.The research involved 589 pre-, peri-,and postmenopausal women enrolled inthe Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.

The results of the study showed thatpostmenopausal women encountered 3times more sleep-disordered breathingevents per hour of sleep, compared withpremenopausal women. Based on thefindings, the researchers concluded thatthe transition into menopause is significantlylinked with a rise in the likelihood ofhaving sleep-disordered breathing. Theinvestigators recommended that menopausalwomen with complaints of snoring,daytime sleepiness, or unsatisfactorysleep ask their physician for an evaluationfor sleep-disordered breathing.