Can Snoring Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack? Here Is What Expert Says

Snoring often sounds like just a nighttime nuisance. Yet for many, it signals a deeper issue, especially when it’s loud, chronic, or paired with pauses in breathing. These signs might hint at Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition linked with a higher risk of heart disease. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Increasing evidence shows a connection between snoring, sleep apnea, and heart health risks. Understanding this link is important for preventing long-term cardiovascular complications.

Understanding the Link Between Snoring and Heart Health

According to Dr Manvir Bhatia, Director of the Neurology & Sleep Centre in New Delhi, the severity of pauses in breathing matters hugely. In a video, Dr Bhatia describes how sleep breathing issues are measured: “If we divide sleep apnea, we measure how many times we stop breathing. So less than 5 is normal. Now, if I study someone and they get 3-4, they get scared. So it’s okay. Less than 5 is fine. In an hour, okay? Not the whole night. 5 to 15 is mild. 15 to 30 is moderate. More than 30 is severe. So now the research has shown, and there is data of thousands of patients, those who have moderate and severe, their chances of stroke, heart attack, dementia, sudden death are all higher.”

In simple terms:

• Snoring itself doesn’t always mean heart risk — but when it’s a sign of moderate to severe sleep apnea, the risk climbs.
• The more pauses in breathing per hour (the higher the Apnea-Hypopnea Index or AHI), the greater the cardiovascular burden.
• Repeated drops in oxygen and surges in stress hormones irritate the heart and blood vessels over time.

Research supports this. A long-term study found snorers with daytime sleepiness had a 46% higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-snorers. Another study showed loud snoring (which may signal OSA) was associated with a 34% greater odds of a heart attack.

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How Snoring and Sleep Apnea Affect the Heart

The mechanism linking snoring/OSA to heart issues includes:

• Intermittent oxygen drops: Each pause in breathing briefly reduces oxygen levels, putting a strain on the heart.
• Surges in stress hormones: Cortisol and adrenaline spike, increasing blood pressure and heart workload.
• Inflammation and vascular damage: Repeated stress injures the vessel lining and promotes atherosclerosis.
• Sleep fragmentation: Poor–quality sleep reduces restorative processes, affecting cardiovascular repair.

Given these pathways, Dr Bhatia emphasises, “Those who have moderate and severe, their chances of stroke, heart attack, dementia, sudden death are all higher.”

How to Protect Your Heart and Sleep Quality

• Seek evaluation if you or your partner notices loud snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep
• Consult a sleep specialist for a possible sleep apnea diagnosis
• Use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines if prescribed to keep airways open at night
• Maintain a healthy weight and avoid alcohol and smoking, which worsen apnea
• Establish good sleep hygiene by keeping a regular bedtime and minimising screen time before sleep

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Conclusion

While snoring may seem minor or even funny, persistent loud snoring, especially with pauses, daytime sleepiness or other symptoms, could signal serious sleep-disordered breathing. According to Dr Manvir Bhatia and supported by research, moderate to severe sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular events. Recognising the signs early, seeking evaluation, and making key lifestyle or therapeutic changes can make a meaningful difference. What starts with snoring might end in stronger heart health.