A personal story exposes how unreported snoring can signal serious cardiovascular risk
Helen Robinson, a 66-year-old retired special needs teacher from Bromley, had never suspected she snored until a family trip placed her in a hotel room with one of her daughters. Fit, slim and a light drinker, she did not match the familiar image of a snorer, so the revelation felt embarrassing.
Over the months after that 2026 family event she noticed headaches, a persistent dry mouth and nights when she woke repeatedly and struggled to fall back asleep. At first she blamed age and tried positional pillows and home remedies, but the pattern persisted until she sought help from her GP in January 2026.
Her tests — which included lung function checks and wearing a pulse oximeter during sleep to track blood oxygen levels — led to a diagnosis many would not expect: obstructive sleep apnoea. The condition, often abbreviated OSA, happens when throat muscles relax and intermittently block the airway so breathing stops and restarts.
These interruptions trigger adrenaline surges that raise blood pressure and, over years, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Helen’s story illustrates how the disorder can lurk behind commonplace complaints such as daytime tiredness and morning headaches.
How obstructive sleep apnoea works and why women are missed
Obstructive sleep apnoea is more than noisy snoring: repeated airway collapse reduces oxygen and fragments sleep. As the body gasps to breathe, the spike in stress hormones produces blood pressure surges that strain the cardiovascular system. Although OSA is widely perceived as a problem for overweight men, research and clinical experience show it is common in women, especially after the menopause. A study of 1,300 women in the journal BMC Endocrine Disorders found symptoms in 36 percent of pre-menopausal women and 53.9 percent of post-menopausal women, and broader modelling from the ResMed Science Center suggested a marked rise in cases by 2050.
Why diagnosis is often delayed in women
Several factors conspire to hide OSA in women. Many are reluctant to report snoring because they see it as unfeminine, and clinicians hear complaints framed as fatigue, brain fog or mood changes rather than loud night-time breathing. Hormonal shifts at menopause also matter: falling levels of progesterone and oestrogen reduce airway muscle tone, making collapse more likely. A 2026 study highlighted that about a third of affected women present with subtle or atypical signs and may lack classic risk factors such as obesity or high blood pressure, delaying recognition and treatment.
Testing and treatment options: from CPAP to mouthguards
Diagnosis typically involves overnight monitoring, including home or clinic oximetry to measure oxygen dips and other sleep studies. The NHS often prescribes continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP, which keeps the airway open by delivering pressurised air through a mask. While CPAP is the clinical gold standard, adherence can be challenging; a study in Sleep Breath reported that fewer than half of patients continued long-term, citing issues such as discomfort and congestion. For those who cannot tolerate CPAP there are alternatives.
Oral devices and newer implants
A commonly used substitute is a custom-made mandibular advancement device, a fitted mouthguard that nudges the lower jaw forward to enlarge the airway. NHS guidelines recommend these for mild cases, though they are not universally supplied and private costs hover around £1,000. Evidence is encouraging: a 2026 paper in Dentistry Journal reported success rates of 81 percent for moderate and 73 percent for severe OSA in patients using these devices. Another option, Inspire therapy, involves an implanted stimulator under the collarbone that senses breathing and activates tongue muscles to prevent collapse; it is available on the NHS but remains limited in provision.
One patient’s path and practical advice
Helen declined CPAP because she worried it would disrupt family visits and travel. After mentioning her symptoms at a dental appointment she was fitted with a custom mandibular advancement device. The fit is adjusted gradually — often about 0.5mm increments per week — until sleepers notice consistent overnight restoration. Helen reported feeling noticeably refreshed within weeks and persuaded clinicians to repeat overnight oximetry, which showed improvement from moderate-to-severe OSA to mild within eight months. She continues to use the device and says the relief has been profound.
Signs worth checking include waking unrefreshed, persistent daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, a dry mouth or coughing on waking and episodes of gasping or choking in sleep. If you or a loved one notice these symptoms, speak to your GP about assessment for obstructive sleep apnoea — especially after the menopause. Early diagnosis and the right therapy can restore sleep and reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.
