Sleep Apnea Poses Increased Risk Of Heart Troubles For Aging Women, Research Shows

New research has found that older women with sleep apnea could be more likely to have a certain kind of heart trouble, reports CBS Philadelphia . Sleep apnea is a common but potentially dangerous disorder where people temporarily stop breathing in their sleep. The new research shows that sleep apnea risks are different between men and women. "We know that obstructive sleep apnea is two to four times more common in men than it is in women," Dr. Reena Mehra of the Cleveland Clinic said. "But when women become post-menopausal, then our risk for obstructive sleep apnea actually increases." The increased risk for older women could be due to hormonal changes, but doctors say it might also be due to functional changes in the upper airway. The study examined data for more than 4,800 people and found that for individuals who reported obstructive sleep apnea or snoring, heart imaging showed an increased thickness in the left ventricular wall — the heart's main pumping chamber — and the thickness was greater for women. Doctors say changes in the heart of the snoring group could be an indication of undiagnosed sleep apnea, which appears to be potentially more dangerous for women as they age.