Habit That Happens At Night Could Be Early Red Flag For Stroke Or Heart Failure

The largest study of its kind has revealed that a common nocturnal condition could act as an early warning sign for dangerous hypertension or high blood pressure. The research, carried out by sleep specialists at Flinders University, discovered that individuals, particularly overweight middle-aged men, who regularly snore at night are more likely to have raised blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension.

This study, published in the Nature Digital Medicine journal, is the first to employ multiple night home-based monitoring technologies over a prolonged period to explore the connection between snoring and blood pressure.

“For the first time, we can objectively say that there is a significant link between regular nighttime snoring and high blood pressure,” declared lead author Dr Bastien Lechat from the College of Medicine and Public Health.

“We found that 15 per cent of all participants in the study, who were primarily overweight men, snore for more than 20 per cent of the night on average and that this regular nightly snoring is associated with elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension,” Dr Lechat added.

NHS simple tips to stop snoring:

• try to lose weight if you’re overweight.
• sleep on your side – try taping or stitching a tennis ball to the back of your sleepwear, or buy a special pillow or bed wedge to help keep you on your side.
• consider asking your partner to use earplugs if your snoring affects their sleep.

“These results emphasise the importance of considering snoring as a factor in healthcare and treatment for sleep-related issues, particularly in managing hypertension.”

Snoring is a common phenomenon, yet its detrimental health effects are frequently underestimated. Snoring often coexists with sleep apnoea – a condition marked by abrupt pauses in breathing during sleep.

“We found that those who snore regularly had almost double the risk of uncontrolled hypertension. This risk nearly doubled again in individuals who snored regularly and suffered from sleep apnoea compared to those who didn’t snore regularly,” elaborated Professor Danny Eckert, Director of Sleep Health at Flinders University and the senior author of the study.

New research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, involved 72,269 people aged 40 to 79 from the UK Biobank study. It did not establish precisely how close you have to get to the same bed and wake-up time – only that the further away you are, the higher the risk of harm.

The lead author, Jean-Philippe Chaput, of the University of Ottawa, said: “We should aim to wake up and go to sleep within 30 minutes of the same time each night and each morning, including weekends. Within an hour of the same time is good but less good than 30 minutes, and even better is to have zero variation.

“Beyond an hour’s difference each night and each morning means irregular sleep. That can have negative health impacts. The closer you are to zero variation the better.

“No one is perfect across a whole year, and if you don’t have a regular sleep pattern for one or two days a week, it’s not going to kill you. But if you repeatedly have irregular sleep, five or six days a week, then it becomes chronic, and that is a problem.”

https://get-latest.convrse.media/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.getsurrey.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2Fhabit-happens-night-could-early-31895801&cre=bottom&cip=22&view=web&allowTracking=true

Snoring alone could serve as an early sign of high blood pressure, as the poor quality of sleep it induces may heighten the risk of developing hypertension. Hypertension, commonly known as prolonged high blood pressure, can result in serious health issues such as heart failure, stroke, heart disease, or kidney disease.

The research made use of data from sleep trackers, placed beneath mattresses to monitor snoring and sleep apnoea, and also utilised FDA-registered home blood pressure monitors. The study spanned nine months and involved over 12,000 participants globally.

NHS advice on what NOT to do if you wish to stop snoring:

• do not smoke.
• do not consume excessive alcohol.
• do not take sleeping pills – these can sometimes cause snoring.

“This is the largest study to date investigating the potential relationships between snoring, sleep apnoea and hypertension using objective assessments in people’s homes, and it reveals important insights into the potential consequences of snoring on hypertension risk,” Dr Lechat said.

The research also highlights the significance of acknowledging snoring within clinical practice and sleep disorder management, particularly in relation to controlling high blood pressure.

“The findings of this study pave the way to further investigate whether therapeutic interventions directed toward snoring can reduce hypertension and reduce the risks associated with it,” he continued.

If you’re experiencing snoring along with indications of poor sleep quality, excessive fatigue, or observed breathing issues during sleep, it’s advisable to consult your GP or a specialist who may recommend a sleep study. For additional information from the NHS, click here.