Snorers ''could be at risk of strokes''
02/09/2008
Snorers could be at risk of more than a clout from their other half, if a new report is right.
Research conducted by the Ludwig Engel Centre for Respiratory Research at Westmead Hospital in Australia and published in the Sleep journal asserts heavy snoring in bed could make sleepers more liable to carotid atherosclerosis.
This is the leading cause of strokes, according to Sharon Lee, an associate professor and director of the centre.
"Heavy snorers ... should have a review of all their risk factors for vascular disease," she urged.
According to the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association, one cause of loud snoring and daytime tiredness is obstructive sleep apnoea.
This causes the sleeper to stop breathing many times a night, forcing them to wake slightly and preventing them from falling into a deep sleep, the body continues.
It recommends those who feel lethargic to visit a sleep specialist for investigative studies into the cause of their snoring.
