Monday, September 17, 2012

Snoring and carotid artery blockages

Snoring has been linked to blockages in carotid arteries in animals, but it's not clear if snoring contributes to blocked arteries in humans. In the August edition of the Sleep journal, researchers perform the study on subjects that had had strokes or mini strokes (TIAs). They had the patient's complete questionnaires about snoring and they graded the degree of carotid artery narrowing by ultrasound.

The results showed no association between snoring and carotid artery narrowing. However this study did not assess for obstructive sleep apnea which could increase the risk of stroke. Therefore, in patients who have had strokes, or mini strokes, it can be helpful to have them assessed for obstructive sleep apnea.

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