Stroke risk caused by loud snoring

Does your partner often wake you up at the crack of dawn because he or she cannot stand your snoring any longer? Or are you yourself tired out because the "buzz saw" in the neighbouring bed keeps you awake night after night? In that case, you or your partner should see a doctor in the near future. Today, scientists are convinced that snoring is more than just a nuisance. A recent survey has revealed a connection between heavy snoring and a disposition toward heart disease and strokes.

 

In fact, this causal connection had already been discovered. However, a new and comprehensive research study carried out by hungarian scientists provides additional support for these results. More than 12,000 test participants were examined by Marta Novak and her team at the Semmelweis University of Budapest.

 

According to the study published in the renowned "Sleep" Magazine, loud snoring increases the risk of a heart attack by 34 per cent and the risk of stroke by an alarming 67 per cent respectively. This associated risk affects broad sections of the population. On this basis, scientists estimate that almost 50 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women snore regularly. Another finding has proven that overweight people tend to produce nightly "background music" particularly often. Astonishingly, the related tendency rate decreases in the group of male test participants over age 70.

 

Volume is significant

According to the study, only extremely loud snorers face health hazards. Consequently, infrequent snorers needn't worry. Snoring might be a sign of a blockage of the airway. The sound itself is created by fluttering movements of the uvula in the palate, which can be caused by a variety of factors. Firstly, about 1 in 2 snorers suffers from heavy snoring, known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which results from collapsing tissue at the rear of the throat. The result can cause the tongue to obstruct the respiratory tracts and block the free passage of air to the lungs. Other causes of sleep apnoea include a distorted nasal septum, allergies, the consumption of alcohol or certain pharmaceutical drugs. Furthermore, the phenomenon is observed more frequently among pregnant women, smokers, and people with certain hereditary characteristics. Adults should sleep for 7-8 hours on average every night. Snorers, however, often sleep less. Snoring cycles tend to occur more frequently during dream or deep-sleep phases, thus reducing the restorative effect of sleep. As a consequence, nervousness, fatigue, and concentration problems are widespread among snorers.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends going to bed at regular times, being neither hungry nor too full at bedtime, sleeping in a cool, dark, quiet room, and, of course, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and drugs.

 

A new pillow, an operation or a mouth guard?

Sometimes the problem can be diminished by simply changing the patient's sleeping position. In some cases, the nasal mucous membranes swell because the patient sleeps in a head-down position. This problem can be eliminated by using a thicker pillow. By the way, a side-sleeping position is always better than sleeping on your back. At an advanced stage of chronic snoring, however, these "tricks" will not be successful.

 

Depending on its cause, snoring may be treated by surgical measures as well. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), for example, is an often-applied treatment. During this procedure, the tissues and the pharyngeal mucous membrane are tightened and a large part of the uvula is removed. It must be stated, however, that the success of this operation varies from case to case. Another relatively new method is the Radiofrequency Therapy (RT). During this procedure, the radiofrequency melts down the pharyngeal tissue and stabilises it through cicatricial shrinking. However, such operations are not always necessary. Instead, experts recommend anti-snoring devices such as mouth guards for the jaw or the oral vestibule. These simple but effective apparatuses hold the lower jaw in a fixed position and prevent the tongue from dropping back.

 

 

Source: Berliner Morgenpost daily newspaper, 4 March 2008