Heavy snoring has been found to be a major risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis which is often associated with stroke. It has been determined that snorers are all at increased risk of development of carotid atherosclerosis. 24% of adult women and 40% of adult men experience habitual snoring.
There was a study that surveyed 110 adults (aged between 45-80) suffering from carotid atherosclerosis. Participants of the study were categorized as non-snorers, snorers with mild severity, and those who experienced nonhypoxic obstructive sleep apnea. They underwent polysomnography and bilateral carotid and femoral artery ultrasound to estimate atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk.
Results showed that 20% of the participants experienced mild snoring, 32% experienced moderate snoring, and 64% suffered from heavy snoring. After the data were adjusted according to age, smoking history, hypertension, gender, and results, the relation between these two conditions became even more evident. According to the research, treatments such as weight loss, moderate alcohol intake, etc., proved to be very effective. Still, there were no studies on whether snoring treatment slows the development of carotid atherosclerosis or not.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "Heavy Snoring Is An Independent Risk Factor For Carotid Atherosclerosis." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 September 2008.
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