Although being more common in men than women and from 40 to 60 years of age, sleep apnea can affect other age groups. Knowing the signs that at each age can raise the suspicion of sleep apnea, being aware and not devaluing them allows us to timely seek medical care to clarify the issue and treat sleep apnea it is diagnosed. Men Being male is already a risk factor for apnea, but there are others: Age over 50 years old; Obesity; Wide neck (neck circumference or perimeter > 40 cm); High blood pressure; Snoring; Episodes of stopped breathing or choking during sleep; Tiredness when waking up. The more risk factors are present, the more likely you are to have sleep apnea. If you have more than two of these items, you may have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Women After menopause, the prevalence of sleep apnea in women increases significantly. About 1 in 10 women after the age of 50 have obstructive sleep apnea. Symptoms are often different from the classic presentation of obstructive sleep apnea, so the following should raise suspicion: Insomnia; Lack of energy; Morning headaches; Desire to repeatedly move legs; Mood disorders; Night sweats; Snoring; Daytime drowsiness; Nightmares. Pregnant One in 10 pregnant women suffers from sleep apnea during pregnancy. During pregnancy, symptoms are less specific. Above all there is excessive drowsiness during the day. Snoring or respiratory arrests are not always detected during sleep. A greater weight gain than the desirable one and age over 35 are the main risk factors for sleep apnea in pregnant women. Sleep apnea in pregnancy can be associated with complications: For the mother, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure that can lead to pre-eclampsia, which is life-threatening for the pregnant woman and the baby; For the fetus, such as intrauterine growth retardation, premature birth, and low birth weight. Children and young people In children and young people, attention and learning problems, hyperactivity and developmental disorders may also be associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The following should raise the suspicion that obstructive sleep apnea may be present: Snoring; Breathing pauses during sleep; Sleeping with your mouth open; Drooling during sleep; Waking up during the night for no apparent reason; Waking up tired; Have complaints of being sleepy during the day; Allergic rhinitis; Deviation of the nasal septum; Large tonsils; Overweight and obesity; Small lower jaw. Seniors As we get older, it takes us longer to fall asleep, we wake up more often and sleep fewer hours. However, we should not think that sleep problems in the elderly are normal. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome increases with age and is high in the elderly: 20%-60%. Symptoms are usually less specific, and complaints are often attributed to other existing diseases. The following may be related to sleep apnea: Depressive symptoms; Symptoms of dementia; Waking up frequently at night to go to the bathroom; Frequent falls; Major cardiovascular disease. Overweight and obesity Obesity is one of the main risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea. Central obesity (neck and abdomen) is particularly associated with obstructive sleep apnea. A neck circumference greater than 44 cm is associated with an increased likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, obesity can also induce a significant decrease in oxygen at night, contributing to the worsening of symptoms and cardiovascular risk. The following should raise the suspicion of sleep apnea: Snoring; Waking up frequently during the night; Episodes of waking up with a feeling of suffocation or choking; Waking up tired despite sleeping an adequate number of hours; Fall asleep easily during the day; Difficulty concentrating or memory problems. Authors: Inês Gonçalves , Mónica Grafino , Telma Lopes and Vera Santos Martins The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
