Night-time snoring before 50-YO poses health risks including stroke and heart disease: study

Young adults who snore during their sleep face an elevated risk of developing stroke and heart disease later in life.

A recent study has found that it is not healthy for people under the age of 50 to snore and it is associated with increased risk of several health conditions. Findings have unveiled a striking statistic: Individuals below the age of 50 who snore exhibit a 60% higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke in middle age. Moreover, their risk of developing a heart rhythm disorder increases by five-fold.

The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Amsterdam and are prompting medical experts to underscore the significance of snoring as an early warning sign for this age group.

The research, which analysed data from 766,000 adults aged 20 to 50 in the United States, focused on the impact of night-time snoring, particularly obstructive sleep apnea—a condition marked by breathing interruptions during sleep, leading to loud snoring and frequent awakenings due to breathing difficulties.

Over the span of a 10-year follow-up period, the study made a significant observation: Individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea had a 60% higher risk of experiencing a stroke compared to those who snored less frequently or not at all.

Elaborating on the study's findings, researchers pointed out that individuals below the age of 50 who snore have an elevated five-fold risk of developing atrial fibrillation - a heart condition characterised by an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.

Lead author Professor Sanjiv Narayan of Stanford University remarked on the significance of the research outcomes. "Sleep apnea is really common but we sort of ignore it because we think it's trivial or just a little bit of a nuisance," he said. He further emphasised the surprising revelation that the study brought forth, underscoring the magnitude of the risk for heart diseases associated with snoring.

According to the Sleep Foundation, snoring occurs when the flow of air through the nasal airway is impeded during sleep. This obstruction, often due to a narrowed or partially blocked airway, results in the vibration of upper airway tissues, generating the sound of snoring. While sleep disorders are a common cause of snoring, lifestyle factors and habits can also contribute to this phenomenon. Prolonged snoring can disrupt a person's sleep pattern, potentially giving rise to various health issues.