11. Snoring or Sleep Apnea: The Silent Night-time Indicators
Snoring or sleep apnea might seem unrelated to heart disease, but these night-time issues could be early signs of heart problems. Sleep apnea, a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, can lead to several complications, one of which is heart disease.
With each episode of apnea, your brain sends distress signals, leading to a surge of adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, this repeated strain on your heart can lead to various heart conditions, including hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, and even heart attacks.
Similarly, snoring could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a specific type of sleep apnea associated with heart disease. Therefore, if you’ve been told that you snore loudly, or you wake up gasping or choking, it’s essential to seek medical advice to evaluate the possibility of sleep apnea and assess your heart health. (11)
