Pharmafile Logo

Why Sleep Health is the Missing Link in Women’s Wellness

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.

- PMLiVE

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 

Global Healthy Living Foundation and Medscape Education Join Forces to Bridge the Gap Between Patients and Providers with Immunology Education

UPPER NYACK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) today announced a new partnership with Medscape Education to advance patient-centered innovation within the Immunology Learning Nexus (Nexus), Medscape’s flagship multi-year...

Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Therapies Drive Early Detection Rates While Exposing Deep Treatment Disparities

Analysis from Komodo Health and Medscape Education shows cognitive screening up 10% and biomarker testing up 23%, yet significant disparities persist in detection for women and treatment access for Black...

Virtual Practice, Real Results: The Power of Virtual Patient Simulation

Simulation has never been more vital in medicine than it is today. As increasing numbers of physicians turn to large language models for clinical answers1, the real differentiator isn’t just...

A New Destination for Oncology Education

Medscape Oncology is pleased to announce the launch of a groundbreaking new learning space designed to provide education across tumor types and oncology disciplines: PIONEER – PrecIsion Oncology: Navigating EvidEnce...

A Call to Action: Bridging the Adult Immunization Divide

Over the past few years, as new diseases have emerged or reemerged, a host of new vaccines have become available while many others are in the pipeline. For older adults,...

Medscape Education Returns as Thought Leaders to AIS 2025

📍 September 8–10, 2025 Hilton at Penn’s Landing | Philadelphia, PA Medscape Education is proud to return to the 2025 Alliance Industry Summit (AIS) as a Silver Sponsor and leading...

What Do Pickleball and Medscape Education Have in Common? Heather Lavigne.

When she’s not taking on challengers on the pickleball court, you can find Heather Lavigne leading Medscape Education’s dynamic insights and impact team as Senior Director. Her leadership philosophy is...

Medscape Education: Celebrating the Power, Purpose, and Future of Women in Medicine

Medscape Education is proud to return to the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™, reaffirming its commitment to uplifting, empowering, and amplifying women across healthcare. As a sponsor, Medscape brings...

Medscape Cardiology: Leading the Future of Heart Failure Education at HFSA 2025

Medscape Cardiology | theheart.org is proud to be at the forefront of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), September 26–29, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN! With...

Medical Misinformation and Sensationalism in the Age of Social Media

In today’s digital age, misinformation spreads faster than ever, often driven by sensational headlines and influencer content. These sources of misinformation often overshadow evidence-based content, creating confusion for both healthcare...