An Italian study helps confirm that heavy snorers may be at increased risk of stroke.
"The results indicate that snoring is not only a nuisance, it is a sleeping disorder that increases a person's risk for stroke," said Professor Virgilio Gallai of Perugia University, where the study was conducted.
The clinical trial involved 416 patients, half of whom had suffered a stroke. Data presented at a recent meeting of the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine show that 40.5 percent of stroke patients were habitual, loud snorers, compared to 29.8 percent of the healthy control group.
Only a few stroke patients in the study had sleep apnea--a sleep disturbance in which a person stops breathing for short periods--a known stroke risk factor.
"This is important, as it shows that not only sleep apnea, but also snoring--the kind that can be heard in the next room--can reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, putting people at risk of strokes," said Dr. Gallai. "It means snoring will now have to be treated more seriously."
Previous research at the State University of New York at Buffalo suggested that certain sleep factors influence the likelihood of having a stroke. In a study of 1,348 adults reported in 2001, the risk for stroke was significantly associated with snoring, the tendency to fall asleep during the day, and sleeping for more than eight hours.
"Individuals who snore severely or have trouble staying awake during the day should see a doctor to find out why," advised lead author Dr. Adnan Qureshi.
When Stroke Strikes
Women may feel the effects of a stroke differently than men do, according to a recent report in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers say that women are more likely to report headache, face and limb pain, and disorientation. Men more often experience paralysis and sudden changes in sensation, walking ability, balance, vision, and speech.
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