Is Snoring Putting a Strain on Your Heart?

Snoring is typically treated as being little more than a nuisance at night. But what many of those who snore do not realize is that snoring may have a significant impact on your cardiovascular health and may be shortening your lifespan.

Snoring May Be Indicative Of Significant Health Issues

Many studies have shown a link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. But new research from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit has revealed that snoring can be just as damaging to our cardiovascular health as smoking. 913 patients between the ages of 18 and 50 were chosen for the study. Each participated in a sleep study between 2006 and 2012 and none had been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Many of the patients responded to a survey about their snoring and had an ultrasound which measured the intima media thickness of their carotid arteries. The researchers found that the carotid arteries in snorers were thicker than those of non-snorers. But even more surprising was that the thickness of the carotid arteries was comparable to the thickness which is seen in patients who smoke or who suffer from diabetes or hypertension.

The Effects Of Thicker Carotid Arteries

Eventually snorers may suffer from carotid artery disease or stenosis. This is when the primary blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to your brain become narrowed so the blood cannot flow as easily as it should. This narrowing can result in a build-up of a number of substances, including:

• Fats
• Cholesterol
• Calcium
• Cellular waste products
• Fibrin

This build up will eventually cause your arteries to harden, which can cause blockages and may lead to a heart attack.

How Snoring Affects Your Blood Pressure

Snoring may not only be unnecessarily causing a snorer’s carotid arteries to thicken – it may also be having a negative effect on your blood pressure. Research published in Harvard Health Publications states that snoring limits the amount of oxygen that enters the blood stream. In extreme situations, this will put unnecessary strain on your cardiovascular system, which can then lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The study also revealed that people who suffer from high blood pressure and sleep apnea benefited by simply treating the sleep apnea alone with a night time breathing apparatus. The apparatus helped reduce or eliminate sleep apnea, and it improved a patients’ blood pressure.

Actively Tackling Your Snoring

Snorers can begin tackling their snoring problem today if they do their research and use the right products. The first and best measure to take is to make an appointment with your doctor and speak with him or her about your snoring. There you will be able to come up with a plan for how you can begin to reduce, or put an end to, your snoring. They may also recommend a medically approved device to help with your snoring. The majority of “anti-snore” mouthpieces available today are not medically proven and are not backed by clinical trials. However, the Good Morning Snore Solution® not only checks those boxes, but the device is also a more comfortable solution that will not cause you to suffer from jaw soreness in the morning or long-term bite misalignment. Backed by a 90 day satisfaction guarantee, snorers can test the product, bring it to their doctor and decide whether or not it is an appropriate solution for their snoring. 

 

References:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/snoring-may-be-bad-smoking-your-heart-244377 http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/treating-severe-snoring-can-help-with-tough-to-control-blood-pressure-201312116935 http://www.medicaldaily.com/snoring-not-so-silent-killer-serious-health-risks-associated-nighttime-nuisance-273864 http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/conditions/carotid-artery-disease/