Heavy snoring increases stroke risk

Heavy snoring is associated with plaque build-up or atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries in the neck and therefore, may is a risk factor for stroke. Previous studies have suggested that snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea may be important risk factors for the development of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. To find whether or not snoring, in the absence of breathing interruptions such as sleep aponea, is also linked to carotid atherosclerosis, researchers from Australia performed sleep tests on 110 participants. The participants were also made to undergo a special ultrasound test to look for carotid atherosclerosis. The participants were categorised into three snoring groups based on the amount of snoring - absent or mild snoring (0 to 25 percent of time), moderate snoring (25 to 50 percent of time), and heavy snoring (more than 50 percent of time). Overall, 31 percent of subjects had carotid atherosclerosis. It was found that as nighttime snoring increased, the rate of atherosclerosis rose from 20 to 65 percent. The impact of snoring on carotid atherosclerosis was apparent even in patients without sleep aponea. However, snoring was not found to be associated with plaque build-up in the femoral arteries, the major vessels that supply blood to the legs. The above findings indicate that the risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis and stroke is not confined not only to those suffering from obstructive sleep aponea but also extends to heavy snorers.

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