Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

Obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Now new research reveals that snoring may not only be disturbing to the one next to you, but it may mean you're at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Other studies have shown that men who snore are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke; this new study shows us that snoring is also a risk factor for women.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Cardiology, followed more than 71 thousand female nurses, with no known heart disease, over a period of 8 years.

The nurses completed a questionnaire that asked about their sleeping habits, and whether they snored regularly, occasionally, or never. At the end of the 8 years, the researchers checked to see which women had heart attacks or strokes.

They found that after accounting for age, obesity, smoking and other risk factors, that women who snored regularly had a 33 percent increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to women who reported they never snored. Women who reported occasional snoring had a 20 percent increase in risk.

It's not exactly clear why snoring increases the risk of heart disease. What we do know is that snoring may signal a problem called sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea will actually stops breathing for a brief period of time, many times during the night, in-between loud snoring. Sleep apnea can reduce the amount of oxygen that's carried in the blood, which increases the work of the heart. It may also increase blood clotting in the arteries, and increase blood pressure. All of these actions may explain why sleep apnea has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Most people who snore don't have sleep apnea. But, the authors of the study suggest that light snoring may turn into sleep apnea later on. And snoring alone has been shown to increase blood pressure. So, if you or someone in the household snores, it's a good idea to mention it to the doctor.

February 21
Snoring, Heart Disease and Women
	Obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Now new research reveals that snoring may not only be disturbing to the one next to you, but it may mean you're at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Other studies have shown that men who snore are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke; this new study shows us that snoring is also a risk factor for women. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Cardiology, followed more than 71 thousand female nurses, with no known heart disease, over a period of 8 years. The nurses completed a questionnaire that asked about their sleeping habits, and whether they snored regularly, occasionally, or never. At the end of the 8 years, the researchers checked to see which women had heart attacks or strokes. They found that after accounting for age, obesity, smoking and other risk factors, that women who snored regularly had a 33 percent increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to women who reported they never snored. Women who reported occasional snoring had a 20 percent increase in risk. It's not exactly clear why snoring increases the risk of heart disease. What we do know is that snoring may signal a problem called sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea will actually stops breathing for a brief period of time, many times during the night, in-between loud snoring. Sleep apnea can reduce the amount of oxygen that's carried in the blood, which increases the work of the heart. It may also increase blood clotting in the arteries, and increase blood pressure. All of these actions may explain why sleep apnea has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Most people who snore don't have sleep apnea. But, the authors of the study suggest that light snoring may turn into sleep apnea later on. And snoring alone has been shown to increase blood pressure. So, if you or someone in the household snores, it's a good idea to mention it to the doctor.

	How do you know if you have sleep apnea? The most telling sign is loud snoring, then no breathing for seconds at a time. Usually it's the person's partner who notices this. Sleepiness during the day can also be a clue. Can snoring be treated? In many cases it can. The type of treatment depends on what is causing the snoring. For example, a deviated septum would be treated with surgery, while sleep apnea might be treated with a nasal oxygen mask or a different type of surgery. That's why it's important to have a thorough evaluation to make the diagnosis and select the most appropriate treatment. References and Resources: Hu FB, Willet WC, et al. Snoring and risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2000; 35:308-13 Snoring: Not Funny, Not Hopeless American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. www.entnet.org/snoring.html American Academy of Sleep Medicine www.aasmnet.org