Why Sleep Health is the Missing Link in Women’s Wellness
February 5, 2026 | Women in Leadership, Women in healthcare
While obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 32% of US adults—nearly 80 million people—it remains an “epidemic hiding in plain sight”. Perhaps most staggering is that 90% of women with the condition are undiagnosed. In the latest Hear From Her podcast, host Jovana Lubarda, PhD, joins Dr. Kimberly Sterling and Dr. Audrey Wells to discuss why women are slipping through the diagnostic cracks.
Listen to the full episode here.
The “Invisible” Symptoms
The traditional “poster child” for OSA is a middle-aged man who snores loudly, but these symptoms often do not apply to women. Dr. Wells and Dr. Sterling, both of whom are OSA patients themselves, highlight that women’s symptoms are often subtle and non-specific:
- Fatigue over Sleepiness: Women often report feeling “tired” or “exhausted” rather than the classic symptom of falling asleep during the day.
- The Diagnostic Maze: Retrospective data shows women often travel a pathway of depression, anxiety, or insomnia diagnoses before receiving an OSA diagnosis.
- REM-Related Apnea: Women are more likely to have apnea that occurs during REM sleep, which can lead to false-negative results on home sleep tests.
Listen to the full episode here.
Why Treatment Matters
Untreated OSA is a breathing disorder that erodes brain, heart, and metabolic health. However, modern CPAP technology is now quiet, travel-friendly, and customized. Research even suggests that CPAP treatment can lead to a 37% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 55% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality.
“Until you look, you don’t actually know,” warns Dr. Wells. By advocating for your own sleep health, you can move past the exhaustion and reclaim your vitality.
Listen to the full episode now to learn how to stop overexplaining your exhaustion and start reclaiming your vitality.
Follow us for updates on upcoming podcasts and more insightful conversations.
For more information, please contact Jelena Spyropoulos.
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professional
This content was provided by Medscape Education
Company Details
Latest Content from Medscape Education
Getting Past the Old-Fashioned View of Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy organizations today are data-driven, doing amazing work — and have the hard evidence to support their impact on patient care. The challenge is getting past the perception of…
Mile High Impact at AAN 2024
The Medscape team will be joining our neurology colleagues in Denver, CO for this year’s AAN Annual Meeting. Impact will take center stage at this year’s event as Medscape presents…
Everything Was Peachy at ACC 2024 in Atlanta, GA
The annual ACC meeting has officially wrapped up in Atlanta, bringing a successful conference to a close for another year. During the conference, members of the Medscape team hosted a…
A Woman Should Not Be Treated As a Small Man
What should the future of women’s healthcare look like? Two renowned physicians say it involves a multidisciplinary, holistic approach, where a group of different specialists work together to provide a…
Sharing Four Times the Impact at ACC 2024
ACC is kicking off next week in Atlanta, GA, and Medscape is heading south to join our cardiology colleagues. The Medscape team will be hosting booth #3431 on the exhibit…
Transforming San Diego for AAD 2024
The 2024 meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology has wrapped up, and Medscape has returned from a series of successful days at their booth, symposia, and offsite event. To…
The Power Dynamics of Women and Cancer
Women, Power, and Cancer: a Lancet commission, studied the interaction of women and cancer through a social justice and equity lens. What does ‘power’ mean when it comes to cancer…
Evaluating the Forces Shaping Women’s Healthcare
Gaps in women’s healthcare go beyond access and cost. Do clinicians have the tools they need to understand women’s health?
Shortening the Journey at the Unusual Suspects Meeting
Medscape will be continuing their mission to shorten the diagnostic journey for patients with a rare disease at this year’s Unusual Suspects event on February 21.The Unusual Suspects is an…
Did You Hear From Her? If Not Here’s What You Missed in Season 1 of the Award-Winning Season Podcast Series
What are some of the biggest gaps that women face in healthcare today? “So many I could talk for hours!” said Shikha Jain, MD, FACP, President, CEO, Founder Women in Medicine….