Article: How Does Snoring Affect Cardiovascular Health?

[Pierce Manhammer]

I cannot overstate the importance of snorers reading this:

How Does Snoring Affect Cardiovascular Health?

Most patients with obstructive sleep apnea, which has been hypothesized as modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, snore loudly every night.

www.medscape.com

Snoring>apnea>afib>left ventricular failure = congestive heart failure

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

First off talk to your GP, they will probably order a sleep study. You may end up wearing a CPAP or receive training on how to reduce snoring with a special pillow or positioning. It’s a non silent killer.

 

[sangheilios]

But how do we prevent snoring in the first place?

A big cause of snoring is being overweight/obese, but especially having a heavy or fat neck. Other stuff would be like positions you sleep in or even your pillow.

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

Well it takes most people a year to get used to a cpap, you train yourself. If you have the diagnosis tell your doc to prescribe you a machine. Even if you wear it one hour a night, it’ll progressively get easier to wear.

If you do have OSA you must try or you’re shortening your life span.

 

[sangheilios]

Already done, I have mild obstructive sleep apnea and a CPAP. CPAP masks are uncomfortable AF to wear though, I can't get my self to wear the thing. I'm a side/stomach sleeper so there's only so much luck for me here - unless you know something I don't.


Last I checked, 17" neck and nearing 10% BF but there's only so much I can do there lol.

Could you possibly invest in a bed that you can adjust, like where the head can be elevated? This is a big reason why I would NOT encourage someone to get into heavily training their neck. BTW, tons of athletes in strongman competitions have this issue, mostly it being because they are legitimately overweight and even obese in some cases.

 

[sangheilios]

@Money & Muscle and @Pierce Manhammer

How would someone know if they even have this issue if they live by themselves? I'm pretty sure I don't snore but there have been a couple times I've woken up doing it because my head was in some really weird position that caused it, if I remember correctly it had something to do with the position of my pillow. I'm positive I don't have this issue because aside from these couple instances I've never woken up snoring.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Very badly

 

[CAPSLOCK BANDIT]

I don't snore but I do have whole conversations with myself in my sleep, not sure if that's better or worse

 

[BackInTheGame78]

I'm unfortunate in that the width of my esophagus is very narrow for the size of my neck....my doctor literally told me the one time "you have sleep apnea, I want you to go get a sleep study" when he was looking down my throat for a routine visit.

And he then asked me if I snores or felt tired a lot even after sleeping. And I said I dunno about snoring but yeah, I am tired a lot even after sleeping...

Got tested and I was in the "severe" category with something like 35x an hour I was stopping breathing and waking up. They said they have people who are like a hundred so it's not the worst they ever saw but it was still considered very bad.

However I had an additional issue because once the CPAP pressure got too high I started having Central Apnea, which is basically your brain telling your body not to breathe...so then I had to use a BiPap and now I only have 1.5-2.5 episodes per hour on an automatic pressure setting.

Have an app that I can monitor everything on and it collects all the data every night.

Won't sleep without it, ever, I feel so much better using it.

Sucks because even tho I am in great shape I still will always have to use it due to physical issues of having an esophagus that is too narrow, which means it's not weight related like most people...

 

[EyeBRollin]

Is it a marker or a maker? Sounds very much like the former. Associated with CVD, but almost certainly not causal.

 

[sangheilios]

Is it a marker or a maker? Sounds very much like the former. Associated with CVD, but almost certainly not causal.

I think its definitely a bit of both. Having many episodes of literally not breathing while you are sleeping has to have very unique ramifications towards your health compared to just being obese, having high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. I'm not very well educated on sleep related issues so I can't say for certain. Either way, I'd take it as a sign that you need to lose weight for sure.

 

[sangheilios]

I don't snore but I do have whole conversations with myself in my sleep, not sure if that's better or worse

I think it's only an issue if you are a spy giving away secrets or something like that lol.

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

Is it a marker or a maker? Sounds very much like the former. Associated with CVD, but almost certainly not causal.

It is a leading factor to CHF and CVD.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Is it a marker or a maker? Sounds very much like the former. Associated with CVD, but almost certainly not causal.

How could not getting enough oxygen and having your O2 levels drop into the 60s or 70s NOT be Causal?

 

[sangheilios]

How could not getting enough oxygen and having your O2 levels drop into the 60s or 70s NOT be Causal?

I think what he is getting at is there are multiple factors going on and that snoring or sleep apnea is not the SOLE cause. A lot of people get sleep apnea because they are obese, which typically is from eating a poor diet and not exercising or being active. Such a diet will also likely raise your blood pressure, elevate your cholesterol and even lead to being insulin resistant or full blown diabetic. Disregarding very specific cases of more isolated sleep apnea, such as yours, I think you'll find that many of these health markers are correlated with one another.

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

Sleep apnea will in 99% of cases cause CVD and CHF.

Do not let it go undiagnosed, do not think “I’m not obese so it’s not me”. Do not be lured.

 

[sangheilios]

Sleep apnea will in 99% of cases cause CVD and CHF.

Do not let it go undiagnosed, do not think “I’m not obese so it’s not me”. Do not be lured.

How would you even know you have it?

 

[BackInTheGame78]

I think what he is getting at is there are multiple factors going on and that snoring or sleep apnea is not the SOLE cause. A lot of people get sleep apnea because they are obese, which typically is from eating a poor diet and not exercising or being active. Such a diet will also likely raise your blood pressure, elevate your cholesterol and even lead to being insulin resistant or full blown diabetic. Disregarding very specific cases of more isolated sleep apnea, such as yours, I think you'll find that many of these health markers are correlated with one another.

Well sure that's true enough, but if we are going to look at it like that, then the actual issue isn't diabetes or being overweight, it's simply what they have chosen to put in their mouth over the past few decades and lack of exercise/sedentary lifestyle

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

How would you even know you have it?

If you snore there is a good possibility you have some level of OSA. Many smart watches can tell you if you do. There are apps available that record your sleep and tell you.

Best Snoring Apps 2026: Track & Detect Snoring (iOS/Android)

The best snoring apps of 2026 to record, track, and detect snoring. Compare SnoreLab, Sleep Cycle, SoundSleep, ShutEye & Snore Free — free and paid picks.

snoringmouthpiecereview.com

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Loud snoring.
• Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
• Waking during the night and gasping or choking.
• Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat.
• Morning headaches.
• Trouble focusing during the day.
• Mood changes, such as depression or being easily upset.
• High blood pressure.
• Decreased interest in sex

 

[BackInTheGame78]

How would you even know you have it?

Easiest way would be if you are sleeping with someone and they tell you are snoring. Snoring = sleep apnea almost 100% of the time.

Other than that, waking up tired constantly or waking multiple times during the night are the most common.

If you have a smart watch, looking at your pulse ox is a good indicator overnight. If it dips below 90 regularly and especially if it is significantly below that is a good indicator.