British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association
Helping You To Stop Snoring Today
The Menopause
It is clear that symptoms experienced by males and females with snoring and sleep apnoea may differ. There are obvious biological differences in lung size and respiratory function in males and females which suggest that the upper airway is relatively greater in women. Additionally the airway walls are less flexible and therefore less prone to yield to pressure. This means that collapse of the airway is resisted when muscle tone falls during sleep.
The drive to breathe varies in phase with the menstrual cycle underlining the influence of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Ventilatory drive may be stronger in males than females whilst awake, but females do not experience such a great fall in the drive to breathe during sleep. Women are probably protected from snoring and sleep apnoea because of this effect.
It is thought that fluctuations in hormone levels can tip the balance in women who are predisposed to snoring and sleep apnoea.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) gives clear evidence that female hormones play a preventative role in reducing the incidence of snoring and sleep apnoea in pre-monopausal females. However, more research is needed to understand the treatment effect of HRT in post-menopausal women.
This page is part of the 90 Day Snore-No-More Plan. You may also like to consider the following causes :
- Obesity
Are you overweight? - Smoking Do you smoke & want to stop?
- Alcohol & Sedatives Will cause excessive muscle relaxation.
- Nasal Based Snoring Can you breathe clearly through your nose?
- Mouth Breather Commonly associated with nasal stuffiness.
- Tongue Base Snorer A common cause.
- Sleeping Position Do you sleep on your back?
- Pregnancy Often transient but could persist.
- Children Can result in failure to thrive.
- The Menopause Consider your hormones.
- Sleep Apnoea Loud snoring. Excessive daytime sleepiness?