5 dangers behind snoring

Snoring and sleep apnea can lead to thinking and memory problems up to a decade earlier than people with light sleep.

The findings were published in the journal Neurology.

While the mechanism of this cognitive decline is not yet clear, the authors say the study found a link between daytime sleepiness and problems with thinking and memory. It is possible that breathing disorders affect sleep in ways that accelerate the development of common age-related brain problems.

However, a breathing therapy called “continuous positive airway pressure” — or CPAP — may offset some of the effects of sleep apnea, or “brain drain.” For that reason, CPAP treatment may be a good idea for people with sleep apnea or severe snoring, says study co-author Ricardo Osorio, MD, of New York University Langone Medical Center.

Here are five reasons to see a doctor if you have severe snoring:

Risk of stroke

Research from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit has found a link between heavy snoring and damage to your arteries—a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack. While it’s possible that damage to your arteries is to blame for snoring, researchers also believe that loud snoring can actually lead to inflammation and damage to your arteries.

Obesity

Heavy inhaling and exhaling so loudly that it disturbs others may also contribute to weight gain, according to a study from the University of Chicago. Poor sleep stimulates two hormones in the body, leptin and ghrelin, which play a role in controlling appetite and food addiction, according to the study authors. Severe snoring is often associated with poor sleep quality and metabolic problems associated with obesity, according to a Brazilian study.

Cancer

People with sleep apnea, a problem often accompanied by heavy, chronic snoring, are five times more likely to die from cancer, a University of Wisconsin study found. Difficulty breathing causes changes to arteries and blood vessels that can speed up tumor growth while creating more opportunities for cancer cells to spread, the study authors said.

Blood pressure problems

About 70 percent of people with common and difficult-to-treat high blood pressure suffer from sleep apnea. Because heavy snoring is one of the most common symptoms of apnea, it may also be a sign of high blood pressure, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Decreased sexual quality

Not surprisingly, older men who snore heavily are more likely to suffer from a common problem: sexual dissatisfaction. Compared with mild or non-snorers, heavy snorers are two to three times more likely to be dissatisfied with their sex lives. Heavy snoring can disrupt both their sleep and their partners’, leading to low energy and low interest in sex, the study authors said.

According to family.net