Commonly recognized heart attack symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness. But there is one symptom that many people aren’t aware of that reveals if your heart is at risk for a heart attack. This symptom is snoring.
Some scientists have claimed that snoring may be an indicator of a myocardial infarction. Snoring contributes to the walls of the carotid arteries becoming thicker. These arteries line the heart and the brain. They can become thicker due to the vibrations caused by snoring.
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Dr. Robert Deeb explained, “We had a hunch that snoring was more of a medical condition than a social nuisance or cosmetic issue, as it is more commonly thought. We think the thickening happens because the arteries are reacting to the vibration of the snoring.
Part of the carotid arteries are very close to the throat, only a few centimeters separate them, so it makes sense that the vibration would affect them. We do know that thickening of arteries can be the first sign of an increased risk of stroke and arteriosclerosis [hardening of arteries], two conditions that can affect the heart.”
Snoring is also a primary sign of sleep apnea, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular-related problems. This is because sleep apnea is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, poor sleep, and higher cholesterol, which are all risk factors for a heart attack.
Therefore, it’s important that if you want to protect your heart, you take the necessary steps to treat sleep apnea along with the other risk factors associated with it. This means speaking to your doctor about using a CPAP device, losing weight, reducing stress, eating healthy, not smoking, and regularly exercising. This not only improves sleep apnea outcome but works towards improving your heart health too.
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If you’ve noticed yourself snoring or have been told you snore, take this as the first step to get on track to improving your heart health.
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Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
