Ep. 3 | Perimenopause, Airway & Brain Health: The Hormone-Breathing Connection No One's Talking About

In this episode, Dr. Kathleen Carson and Dr. Ellie Campbell dive into the overlooked intersection of perimenopause, sleep-disordered breathing, and long-term brain health. They explain why women who never snored suddenly start snoring during perimenopause — and why the answer lies in the hormonal changes affecting airway muscle tone, cortisol patterns, and oxygen levels during sleep. Dr. Campbell breaks down the roles of estrogen and progesterone, how to time hormone testing, and what supplemental progesterone can do for sleep and breathing. Dr. Carson shares what she sees in the mouths of perimenopausal women — from bruxism and jaw pain to gum inflammation — and why those signs point to a systemic problem that requires collaborative care. They also connect oral bacteria (specifically Porphyromonas gingivalis) to Alzheimer's disease, and explain how nitric oxide ties together sleep quality, cardiovascular health, and sexual function. If you've been told your symptoms are "just hormones," this episode is for you.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zPDSJmPbKhcDisclaimerSleep, Sex & Senility is produced for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared by Dr. Ellie Campbell and Dr. Kathleen Carson is not intended to constitute medical or dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not create a physician-patient or dentist-patient relationship. Always seek the guidance of your physician, dentist, or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical or dental condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. The views expressed are those of the hosts and do not represent any institution or organization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.