Sleeping for more than eight hours a night, snoring and daytime drowsiness was asscociated with an increased risk for stroke, researchers reported today at the American Stroke Association s 26 th International Stroke Conference. Researchers evaluated the association between snoring, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness with stroke and carotid artery narrowing in 1,348 adults who participated in a stroke screening program in Buffalo, New York. Transient ischemic attacks are temporary, stroke-like events that last for a short time. Individuals who snore severely or have trouble staying awake during the day should see a doctor to find out why. These may be signs of certain sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, which is associated with an increased risk of having a stroke.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops briefly and repeatedly during sleep.
The breathing abnormality often causes snoring and frequent awakening as the sleeper quickly gasps for breath. It can lead to drowsiness during the day. The participants were also examined for the presence of carotid artery stenosis, a build-up of fatty material leading to narrowing of the principal arteries to the neck and head. Exactly how the disruptions contribute to stroke and TIA risk is still uncertain. Study participants were not asked to distinguish between sleep patterns before and after stroke.