Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Healthwatch, we're talking about your heart and your health. Did you realize that there could be a connection between the way you sleep and your risk for a heart attack? Snoring may seem like it's just an irritant for someone who sleeps in the same room - or the same house - but doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say it could be a sign of something more serious.
Snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing periodically throughout the night while you sleep. This prevents oxygen from being delivered to the lungs, which raises the risk for heart attack, high blood pressure or stroke.
Dr. John Truelson, a UT Southwestern ear, nose and throat specialist, says sleep apnea can be treated with devices or surgery.
Next: something that's bad for the heart can be good for cells.
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April 2005
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