Heavy snoring can be a nuisance and a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which raises the risk of cardiovascular problems including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, heart attack and stroke.

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep and block the flow of air. Breathing may stop momentarily.

Not everyone who snores has apnea, but certain chemicals in the brain that trigger breathing are not stimulated when a person snores.

This causes oxygen levels to drop while adrenaline and some hormones surge. These hormones contribute to irregularities of the heart and other cardiovascular risks.

Although it has not been determined if snoring is an independent risk factor for heart disease, researchers at the University of Michigan suggest that treating people for obstructive sleep apnea significantly lowers the risk of heart disease.

Patients with moderate-to-severe apnea are often helped by a continuous positive airway pressure device, or a CPAP. This is a mask that applies gentle pressure to keep airways open. In some cases, surgery is used to remove polyps, tonsils or adenoids.

Many times, losing weight or sleeping on your side instead of your back is enough to reduce snoring and apnea.