Why loud snoring can lead to heart disease, stroke
Snoring, generally not much more than an annoyance for anyone within earshot, can be much more serious after new research linked loud snoring to heart disease and stroke.
The new findings, published in the journal Sleep, concluded that heavy snorers were significantly more likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to the rest of the population. More than 12,000 patients were studied by Hungarian scientists in reaching the conclusion.
According to the published report, when compared to the rest of the population, loud snorers had a 34% increased risk of having a heart attack and a 67% greater chance of suffering a stroke. In addition, 40% were at greater risk of suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure.
The study, co-authored by Dr Marta Novak of the Institute of Behavioral Sciences at Semmelweis University in Budapest, concluded that by focusing on those who snore loudly with breathing pauses, those at highest risk of these diseases could more readily be identified. Quiet snorers were not found to be at risk.
The findings suggest that loud snoring with breathing pauses carries a significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease and is close to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on the spectrum of sleep disordered breathing,
