"You may think that what is the relationship between a good night's sleep and a stroke? But in fact, snoring, a seemingly ordinary phenomenon, may be a warning sign from your body. Today, we're going to talk about the relationship between snoring while sleeping and stroke. A few years ago, a middle-aged man came to my office with a tired face and a slightly hoarse voice. His wife, who accompanied him, mentioned that her husband's snoring at night was frighteningly loud, and sometimes he would stop breathing for a few seconds. At first glance, it may have been just a normal sleep quality problem, but as a doctor, I smelled potential signs of other health problems – especially the risks associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Through further examination and monitoring, we found that he had severe sleep apnea syndrome, which not only disrupted his sleep, but more importantly increased his risk of stroke. Yes, 'small movements' while sleeping can be a precursor to a big problem. "Sleep apnea and cardiovascular health associated with stroke: Sleep apnea can lead to recurrent hypoxemia and sleep disruption at night, and this persistent lack of oxygen supply not only affects sleep quality but also puts stress on the cardiovascular system. The heart needs to work more intensively to compensate for the lack of oxygen, which can lead to high blood pressure in the long run, which is one of the main risk factors for stroke. Affects endothelial function in vascular health: Repeated hypoxic states in patients with sleep apnea can damage vascular endothelial cells, the health of which is essential for the proper function of blood vessels. Impaired endothelial function increases the risk of vascular stiffness and atherosclerosis, which further exacerbates the risk of stroke.
Activation of the sympathetic nervous system: The body's sympathetic nervous system is frequently activated due to the cessation and reactivation of breathing in sleep apnea. This excessive neurological activity can lead to increased blood pressure and irregular heart rate, both of which are risk factors for stroke. Inflammation and blood clotting: Sleep apnea is also associated with increased levels of inflammation and altered blood clotting function in the body. Abnormalities in inflammation and clotting mechanisms can lead to blockage of blood vessels, which increases the risk of stroke. Through these four main aspects, we can see that sleep apnea is not only a problem that affects sleep quality, but also a serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health hazard. Recognizing and treating sleep apnea not only improves sleep quality, but also significantly reduces the risk of serious health problems such as stroke. In the following sections, we will explore how to identify and manage sleep apnea to protect our cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
The Mechanism Behind Snoring: How It Causes a Stroke
Obstruction and collapse of the upper airway: Snoring is usually caused by a partial obstruction of the airway, which may be caused by the tongue, tonsils, or soft palate relaxing and falling backwards. As air tries to pass through these narrow passages, the surrounding tissues vibrate, resulting in a snoring sound. In severe cases, this obstruction can lead to intermittent complete airway occlusion, known as sleep apnea. Decreased oxygen saturation: Snoring and associated airway obstruction can lead to a decrease in oxygen saturation in the blood. This state of hypoxemia requires the heart to work extra hard to maintain an adequate supply of oxygen, and this constant stress can cause a long-term burden on the heart and vascular system.
Increased blood pressure: Frequent airway occlusion and hypoxemia trigger an emergency response in the body, the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in an increase in blood pressure. Long-term nocturnal elevated blood pressure has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Impaired endothelial function: Persistent hypoxic states affect the function of vascular endothelial cells, which are responsible for regulating the constriction and dilation of blood vessels and maintaining the health of blood vessels. Impaired endothelial function accelerates the process of arteriosclerosis, further increasing the risk of stroke. Changes in inflammation and coagulation factors: Elevated inflammatory markers are common in patients with snoring and sleep apnea, and the increase of these inflammatory factors is closely related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, hypoxia may affect the clotting function of the blood and increase the likelihood of thrombosis, which is a direct cause of stroke. Preventive measures in daily life to change sleep position:
Sleeping on your back may cause the base of your tongue to fall back, worsening airway obstruction and snoring. Trying to sleep on your side can reduce this. Using a special pillow or sleep positioner can help maintain a side sleeping position. Weight control: Being overweight or obese increases neck fat, which can compress the airways and increase the risk of snoring. Maintaining an ideal body weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise can effectively reduce the occurrence of snoring. Avoid alcohol and sedatives: Alcohol and certain medications such as sleeping pills can cause the throat muscles to relax excessively, increasing the risk of snoring. Try to avoid alcohol and non-essential sedatives before bedtime. Regular sleep habits: Establish regular sleep patterns and go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Getting enough and high-quality sleep can help reduce snoring. Quit smoking: Smoking can cause inflammation and swelling of the airways, worsening snoring. Quitting smoking is an important step in improving your overall respiratory health. Maintain a ventilated sleeping environment: Using an air humidifier can reduce indoor air dryness, prevent throat dryness and irritation, and help reduce snoring. Regular medical evaluation: Individuals with frequent snoring and daytime fatigue should have a professional sleep assessment to rule out possible health problems such as sleep apnea. By implementing these preventive measures, the problem of snoring can be effectively managed and the risk of stroke associated with it can be reduced. These measures not only help improve the quality of life, but also protect long-term health.