For Heavy Snorers, Artery Concerns

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, Canada and Europe - killing one person every 34 seconds. The general notion is that it is caused primarily by a diet rich in fats and a sedentary lifestyle. However, recent studies have shown additional risk factors that contribute to narrowing of the arteries - risk factors that can be easily eliminated with little or no effort at all.

“Smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension and obesity are among the known risk factors for carotid artery stenosis, the narrowing of the arteries that supply the brain with blood, and whose blockage can lead to stroke. Now researchers may have found a new risk: heavy snoring.After controlling for sex, body mass index, smoking, hypertension and other factors, they calculated that the risk for carotid artery narrowing among the heaviest snorers was 10 times the risk among those who snored the least.

…the authors write that the vibrations of snoring may cause damage to the epithelium, the cells that line the inside of the artery, leading to inflammation and plaque buildup.”

Eventually, the plaque buildup prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching the brain, thus causing a stroke. Complications can arise along the way and lead to numerous other life-threatening situations like cardiac arrest. Simply by learning how to stop snoring, you can lead a healthier life, free from heart disease - the number one killer in the world.

For the full story: For Heavy Snorers, Artery Concerns