Q. If you haven’t had sleep apnea as a young adult, why does it suddenly show up when you’re 30, 40, or 50? A. That’s a complicated question with a complicated answer. With most people, it gets back to being overweight or obese. Leading sleep experts believe that if a person gains weight, that’s what leads to their sleep apnea. Seasonal allergies or sinus problems that people may not have had before can suddenly cause sleep apnea. For women, menopause seems to play a significant role in sleep apnea. It’s quite common for older menopausal women to develop some fat in their necks and that obstructs breathing. During the post-menopausal years, sleep apnea is almost as common for women as it is for men, perhaps due to both the increase in testosterone and the decrease in progesterone and estrogen that occur in menopause. |
