(14-03-13) Is snoring more dangerous to your heart than smoking?

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) People who snore are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease
than smokers, the overweight, or people with high cholesterol, according to a
study conducted by researchers from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and
presented at the 2013 Combined Sections Meeting of the Triological Society in
Scottsdale, Ariz. The study has been submitted for publication to the journal
The Laryngoscope.

"Snoring is more than a bedtime annoyance and it shouldn't be ignored," lead
author Robert Deeb said. "Patients need to seek treatment in the same way they
would if they had sleep apnea, high blood pressure or other risk factors for
cardiovascular disease."

Scientists have known for some time that the sleep disorder known as a
obstructive sleep apnea - in which a collapse of the airway in the throat
causes snoring and cessation of breathing during sleep - significantly
increases a person's risk of cardiovascular disease and other serious health
problems. Yet until now, there has been no evidence suggesting that even in the
absence of obstructive sleep apnea, snoring itself might be a risk factor.

The researchers reviewed medical data on 54 patients between the ages of 18
and 50 who did not have sleep apnea and who had participated in a diagnostic
sleep study at the hospital between December 2006 in January 2012. All the
participants had completed a survey about their snoring habits and had
undergone a test known as a carotid artery duplex ultrasound.

This procedure measures the thickness of that critical artery's two inner
layers, known as "intima-media thickness." Thickness of these two layers is
considered an early sign of carotid artery disease, and can be used to detect
and track the progression of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis can deprive the brain of oxygenated blood, leading to stroke.

Snoring not "benign"
The researchers found that people who snored had a significantly higher
carotid intima-media thickness than people who did not snore. No such
difference was found between smokers and non-smokers or people who did and did
not suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

The damage to the carotid artery may come from trauma and inflammation caused
by the vibration of chronic snoring, the researchers speculated.

"Our study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that isolated
snoring may not be as benign as first suspected," Deeb said. "So instead of
kicking your snoring bed partner out of the room or spending sleepless nights
elbowing him or her, seek out medical treatment for the snorer."

A 2012 study published in October 2012 in the American Journal of Obstetrics
found that women who began snoring during pregnancy were significantly more
likely to develop hypertension.

The Ford researchers are now planning to conduct a long-term study to see if
people who snore suffer from a higher rate of cardiovascular events.

"Snoring is generally regarded as a cosmetic issue by health insurance,
requiring significant out-of-pocket expenses by patients," Deeb said. "We're
hoping to change that thinking so patients can get the early treatment they
need, before more serious health issues arise."

Sources:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/hfhs-dit012413.php http://www.
naturalnews.com

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