Did you know that a new study published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that women who snore regularly have almost twice the risk of heart attacks and strokes as women who don’t?

Researchers at Brigham Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health tracked the health status of 71,779 female nurses, ages 40-65, who were free of cardiovascular problems over an 8 year period. The results were alarming:

• Women who snore regularly are 33% more likely to suffer from stroke and heart disease than women who don’t snore.

• Occasional snorers are 20% more likely to develop cardiac complications.

What’s the message for snoring women? Snoring doesn’t mean that you will suffer from a heart disease, but it does mean that you are at a higher risk than non-snorers. It is important to note that other important contributors to heart disease, such as smoking and obesity, were accounted for in the results.

If you or a loved one suffer from snoring, remember that it’s more than just a “social nuisance.” Snoring is an indicator that you’re having difficulty breathing during sleep—and this study proves that it’s putting a burden on your heart and blood pressure.

Next time you visit your doctor, tell him or her that you snore, and that you’re concerned about how this condition is impacting your heart and cardiovascular system. It may be time to get tested for sleep apnea—a condition now proven to be a contributing factor for heart disease.