Snoring and the Effects of Menopause

LIKE IT OR NOT, SNORING INCREASES WITH AGE. FOR MANY WOMEN REACHING MENOPAUSE, SNORING CAN BECOME A MIDLIFE CRISIS IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

According to the American National Sleep Foundation, snoring affects 90 million adults, 37 million of them on a regular basis. Men – usually middle-aged and older men – are twice as likely to snore as women. However, the gap between male and female snorers closes after menopause and, after 50, equal numbers of men and women snore.

According to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Foundation, the male / female split in snoring is due to biological differences in lung size and respiratory function. The upper airway is larger in women and the airway walls less flexible, making it less likely they will yield to pressure and collapse, when muscle tone falls during sleep.

Snoring definitely increases with age.

However, with age comes loss in muscle tone and even the palate can become more flabby and susceptible to vibration. Many of those who approach Snoremeds for help with excessive snoring are women who are experiencing the fluctuations in hormone levels associated with menopause, whilst dealing with the stigma attached to women snoring.

Snoring and Menopause:

During menopause, the production of estrogen decreases. This not only regulates the menstrual cycle, but also plays a big role in keeping muscles and soft tissues around the windpipe strong. From just before to shortly after menopause, women report the highest incidence of sleep problems, with up to 61 percent complaining of insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing.

Medical experts have proven that both snorers and their partners suffer the consequences of a noisy – and poor – night’s rest. Snoring compromises sleep quality, which is why sleep-deprived women are irritable, more frequently depressed and more susceptible to illness. Women who don’t get enough sleep also tend to age more rapidly and face an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes.

During menopause, when women struggle with both physical and emotional problems, they are often at their most vulnerable, a time when they need the support of a loving partner. However, the exhaustion and frustration that inevitably results when one partner’s snoring keeps the other awake can undermine the importance of a relationship.

However, according to research, it is possible to effectively tackle snoring problems. The SnoreMeds mouthpiece gently moves the lower jaw forward, opening the throat and keeping the airway unobstructed. Made from hyper allergenic plastic, SnoreMeds mouthpieces mold to the mouth, allowing the wearer to swallow and breathe normally, whilst enjoying a good night’s sleep. SnoreMeds anti-snoring mouthpieces are available in two sizes – with a smaller variation better suited to women.