Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Women: What to Look For

It’s true obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is most often diagnosed in men, particularly older white men who are overweight and consistently snore loudly. But it’s also true that this common sleep disorder doesn’t discriminate.

Obstructive sleep apnea can affect people of all genders, body types, races, ages and backgrounds – even babies.

However, a growing body of research shows that women and people of color are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed when it comes to sleep apnea.^1,2 They’re also less likely to be screened for sleep apnea or referred to a specialist.

That’s a reality with potentially serious consequences for people’s health and quality of life. Let’s take a closer look at who’s at risk and what the risks are.

Risks of untreated sleep apnea

For most people with obstructive sleep apnea, the chronic poor-quality sleep makes it tough to stay awake during the day, focus, be physically active or manage emotions. These challenges in turn can lead to additional ones, like poor self-care, injuries and accidents, and relationship and work stress.

In addition to the day-to-day struggles, sleep apnea can cause or worsen serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity and depression.

If sleep apnea goes untreated, these symptoms and health risks often get worse and can even shorten a person’s life span. In fact, research shows that Black men, in particular, face a significantly higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea-related death than white men or women, or Black women.^3,4 This is partly because they’re less likely to get diagnosed and treated early, before the condition becomes more severe.

These are all reasons why It's so crucial to fully understand how far-reaching sleep apnea can be – and to recognize the contributing factors, signs and symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring

• Not breathing for short periods during sleep

• Waking up gasping for air

• Feeling exhausted during the day

• Waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat or headache

• Sleeping restlessly, including tossing and turning or getting up to use the toilet

• Having difficulties with focus and/or memory

• Experiencing mood swings and other changes in behavior

• Experiencing depression and anxiety

The importance of awareness for detection

While above list is accurate, it’s important to note that symptoms can appear – and be described – differently depending on a person’s gender, race or cultural background.

For example, research has found that Black men and women often don’t find snoring as disturbing as their white peers, so they may be less likely to mention it to their health care provider. Women, on the other hand, tend to report symptoms like headaches, mood changes and getting up to go to the bathroom more often than men. Children with sleep apnea are more likely to snore loudly, become irritable, have trouble focusing or show behavioral changes.⁵

Similarly, women going through hormonal fluctuations or changes, such as due to pregnancy or menopause, are more likely to develop sleep apnea. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea during pregnancy also raises the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and preterm delivery.⁶

While sleep apnea is more common in adults, particularly older adults, children and adolescents can be affected – mostly those with obesity. Other factors that increase a child’s risk of developing the sleep disorder include severe nasal congestion, facial structural differences and certain congenital disorders, like Down syndrome. Infants born prematurely are also at a higher risk for sleep apnea, partly because their respiratory systems and airway structures are still developing.

If an individual isn’t aware of what obstructive sleep apnea is and its signs and symptoms, they won’t know to ask their provider about it. Likewise, if a provider isn’t aware of these differences in how symptoms are reported – and in whom they may present – they’re more likely to overlook important signs.

Family history influences

Another influential factor to consider with obstructive sleep apnea is a person’s family history. Research suggests that genetics may contribute to why some people are more susceptible to sleep apnea than others. Studies show people who have a close family member with the sleep disorder are more likely to develop the condition themselves.⁷ This increased risk may be due to inherited physical traits such as body type (including fat distribution), facial and neck structure, and sleep patterns. For example, inherited features like the shape and structure of a person’s nose, throat or airway can increase the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. These include large tonsils or adenoids, a smaller or narrower airway, a thick neck, or reduced muscle tone in the throat or neck.

Excess weight and obesity are also major risk factors for the sleep disorder, and genetic factors can influence how likely a person is to gain or carry extra weight.

Sleep apnea is treatable

The good news is a variety of treatment options are available for obstructive sleep apnea. And with the right diagnosis and treatment, many people effectively manage their sleep apnea – and improve their overall health and well-being. Early intervention is recommended whenever possible.

Providers make treatment recommendations based on the severity of your symptoms, as well as age, overall health, lifestyle needs and insurance coverage. The following are among the most commonly recommended treatments:

Lifestyle changes – These may include adjusting your sleeping position, losing excess weight, increasing physical activity, and avoiding smoking, alcohol and substance use. While these changes won’t necessarily cure sleep apnea, they can help reduce the severity of sleep apnea, especially in mild to moderate conditions.

It's important to note: For people with obesity, weight loss can help reduce sleep apnea symptoms. But weight loss alone may not bring sleep apnea to a safe level, and many people may need additional treatment.⁸

Breathing devices – A continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine is commonly prescribed for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. It’s a device that delivers air through a hose and mask to help keep the airway open during sleep.

Unfortunately, about half of patients^9,10 prescribed CPAP therapy struggle with or stop using it and may be given other treatment options. If CPAP doesn’t work, ask to explore other options. Many people transition from CPAP to nerve stimulation therapy.

Implantable devices – For those who are unable to tolerate or benefit from CPAP, Inspire^® therapy is another option. Different from other treatments, Inspire therapy is a mask-free11 solution that works inside your body to treat the root cause of obstructive sleep apnea, so you can breathe regularly and sleep soundly.

Dental appliances – Mouthpieces can sometimes be used to reposition the jaw and tongue to help improve breathing and reduce sleep apnea events in mild sleep apnea cases.

Traditional surgeries – An inpatient surgical procedure (meaning, requiring hospitalization) may be recommended if the structure of your nose, mouth, throat or jaw gets in the way of airflow. The specific type of surgery depends on the individual’s unique needs, but it often involves repairing airway-related structures or removing tissue that blocks airflow. These types of surgeries are usually considered when other treatments haven’t been effective, as they tend to carry more risk and require a longer recovery time.

Talk to a health care provider

The first step is to see a health care provider, preferably one trained to recognize how symptoms may present differently across diverse backgrounds. Since the symptoms of sleep apnea can vary and often overlap with those of other conditions, it may be necessary to bring it up directly as a potential concern.

Sources

1 University of Buffalo, More Black men have been dying from sleep apnea than white people and Black women. May 4, 2022.

2 Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Ethnic/racial and sex disparities in obstructive sleep apnea among adolescents in southern California. October 1, 2024.

3 PubMed, The Need for Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Research to Understand and Intervene on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. June 2022.

4 Harvard Kennedy School, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, The Journalist’s Resource, Sleep disparities: An explainer and research roundup. February 28, 2023.

5 Jefferson Health, Top 5 Sleep Apnea Myths Debunked. August 25, 2023.

6 SleepApnea.org, Sleep Apnea in Women. November 5, 2024.

7 Sleep Foundation, Is Sleep Apnea Genetic? December 22, 2023.

8 Sleep Foundation, How Weight Affects Sleep Apnea. April 30, 2024.

9 Rotenberg et al. Trends in CPAP adherence over twenty years of data collection: a flattened curve. Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2016; 45:43

10 Weaver, TE, Sawyer, AM. "Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Implications for Future Inventions." Indian Journal of Medical Research, 2010; 131: 245-258.

11 ADHERE Registry: Data on File

Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Differences in Symptoms and Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea between Black and White Patients. December 2, 2020.

Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Risks: 6 Myths to Know. Accessed July 8, 2025.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Home, NIH, Sleep Apnea - Sleep Apnea and Women. February 4, 2025.