World Heart Day Spotlight: Why Snoring Could Be a Heart Risk

When most of us think about snoring, we picture a harmless (if annoying) sound that keeps partners awake at night. But snoring can sometimes be much more than just a nuisance—it can be a red flag for your heart health. This World Heart Day, it’s the perfect time to shine a spotlight on why that nightly noise could be signalling something serious.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring is one of the hallmark signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Around 1 in 5 Australians live with OSA, and alarmingly, up to 80% remain undiagnosed.^1,2 That means millions of people may be unaware that their sleep is silently straining their heart and overall health.

Do you need a sleep study? Ask yourself if you regularly experience:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping or choking at night
• Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
• Poor focus or memory

If these sound familiar, you may be living with undiagnosed OSA.

Why the Heart Connection Matters

OSA doesn’t just make you tired—it places stress on your cardiovascular system. Every pause in breathing lowers oxygen levels, triggering your body’s stress response. This increases heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammation.³ Over time, these nightly stress cycles can damage your heart and blood vessels.

Research shows that untreated sleep apnea⁴:

• Increases the risk of heart failure by 140%
• Raises the risk of stroke by 60%
• Boosts the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%

It also significantly increases the likelihood of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). In fact, people with sleep apnea are 2–4 times more likely to develop arrhythmias compared to those without the condition.⁵

How OSA Damages the Heart

The link between sleep apnea and heart disease comes down to what happens inside the body during those nightly breathing pauses. Each time your airway collapses, oxygen levels drop, and your body goes into “fight or flight” mode.³ This activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing spikes in blood pressure and heart rate.³ Repeated episodes also create sudden pressure changes in the chest, which can strain the heart muscle and disrupt normal rhythms.³

On top of that, the constant cycle of low oxygen and re-oxygenation creates oxidative stress and inflammation, damaging blood vessels and accelerating atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque in arteries).³ Over months and years, this ongoing strain increases the risk of heart failure, stroke, and coronary artery disease.

Why Getting Tested Matters

The good news? Sleep apnea is treatable, and diagnosis is simpler than you might think. With a home sleep study, you can be assessed in the comfort of your own bed. At SOVE, we use the Falcon HST device—you’ll visit one of our nationwide clinics for a quick appointment, take the device home overnight, and return it the next day.

From there, our comprehensive clinical team—including accredited Respiratory and Sleep Physicians, technologists, and CPAP consultants—review your results. If OSA is diagnosed, CPAP therapy is one of the most effective treatments. This bedside machine gently delivers air through a mask to keep your airway open, eliminating symptoms.

Take Charge of Your Heart Health

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Australia and worldwide.⁵ While lifestyle factors like diet, smoking, and lack of exercise are well-known risks, sleep apnea is often overlooked. This World Heart Day, take snoring seriously—it could be your body’s way of warning you about more than just restless nights.

If you or a loved one experience loud snoring, gasping, or ongoing daytime fatigue, speak to your doctor about a sleep study. Catching sleep apnea early could protect not just your sleep, but your heart.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time.

If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply.

References

1. Soenen, Stijn, et al. “Sleep Health Primary Care Clinical Resource.” Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 53, no. 6, 1 June 2024, pp. 349–355, https://doi.org/10.31128/ajgp-03-23-6779.

2. “80% of People with Sleep Apnoea Are Undiagnosed. Here’s How to Tell If You Have It.” Sciencefocus.com, 2024, www.sciencefocus.com/science/sleep-apnea-beat.

3. Girardin Jean-Louis, et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: Role of the Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 4, no. 3, 15 June 2008, p. 261, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2546461/.

4. SHAHAR, EYAL, et al. “Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Cardiovascular Disease.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 163, no. 1, Jan. 2001, pp. 19–25, https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.163.1.2001008.

5. Newsom, Rob. “Is Sleep Apnea Connected to Heart Disease?” Sleep Foundation, 5 Feb. 2021, www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea-linked-heart-disease.