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.
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