New research suggests that loud snoring can cause hypertension and as a result increased blood pressure during sleep. Snoring can progress into a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (the word ‘apnoea’ is Greek for ‘without breath’), where the tongue is completely sucked against the back of the throat and blocks breathing.

This airway obstruction causes the heart rate to fall below normal, with decreases in blood-oxygen levels. The obstruction will not clear until the brain oxygen level falls low enough to partly wake the sleeper with a release of adrenaline. This is an automatic body reaction, and is intended to prevent suffocation.

The airway obstruction is usually broken with one or several often loud gasps to take in fresh air. Due to the adrenaline release, the heart rate is increased above normal. This event may happen hundreds of times a night for someone suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, which means the sleeper does not get a deep, restorative sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) has been linked to an increased risk of hypertension, higher blood pressure, strokes, cardiovascular disorders, depression, impotence, reflux/heartburn, obesity, diabetes and memory problems.