Beware, Frequent Snoring When Sleeping Increases Stroke Risk

Ever heard snoring or snoring? This noise definitely makes you sleepless. Although annoying, you may also have this habit without realizing it. Snoring habits during sleep do seem trivial, but can have bad effects on health. Research shows that snoring can increase a person's risk of developing chronic diseases such as stroke.

What is the relationship between stroke and the habit of snoring during sleep?

Nearly 40 percent of stroke cases occur when the patient is sleeping or one hour after waking up. Then, another study explained that a person's snoring intensity is related to carotid atherosclerosis — narrowing of the arteries in the neck due to fat deposits or plaque. This disease, if getting worse, can cause a stroke.

A study presented at the International Stroke Conference shows that poor sleep quality can increase a person's risk of having a stroke. People who are at risk with a stroke from this study are those who are often sleepy during the day and who have a habit of snoring.

Dr. Douglas Bradley, spokesman for the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation in Toronto explained, "If the habit is carried out as much as 200 to 400 times, blood pressure can increase". You need to know that high blood pressure (hypertension) can increase the risk of stroke.

Snoring habits are characteristic that you have sleep disorders, namely sleep apnea. This disease usually occurs in adults before a stroke occurs. In addition to snoring, sleep apnea can stop a person's breathing during sleep so that the patient can wake up in shock and pant for breath. This condition can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the brain so that the risk of stroke.

According to the Everyday Health website, snoring not only increases the risk of stroke, but also other diseases, such as:

• Coronary heart disease
• Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm)
• GERD or reflux of stomach acid
• Headache

Don't let the habit of snoring get worse

If your snoring habit is caused by sleep apnea, the best way to deal with it is to get the right treatment from your doctor. In addition, you can follow these steps to stop the habit of snoring during sleep, such as:

• Use a pillow that allows your head to be higher than the body. This makes it easier for the nasal passages to breathe more freely and prevent snoring.
• Losing weight can help some people to overcome snoring habits. Weight loss reduces pressure on the throat so the air can flow more smoothly. Although not necessarily effective for everyone, it never hurts to try to rearrange your diet and exercise routine.
• Stop using sedatives and avoid drinking alcohol four to five hours before going to bed. Both of these make the muscles behind the throat not rest so that you can snore.
• Drink lots of water can prevent the body from dehydration. When the body is deficient in fluid, snoring is more likely to occur even harder.
• Keep your sleep quality. For example, by rearranging sleep or taking a warm bath before going to bed. Avoid working late into the night which can make the muscles of the body tired and make you snore.

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