A study has found that people who regularly do this in bed are more likely to have elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension07:25, 28 May 2026Extensive research has uncovered that a widespread night-time habit might serve as an early indicator for hazardous hypertension or elevated blood pressure. The investigation, conducted by sleep experts at Flinders University, found that people, especially overweight middle-aged males, who habitually snore during the night are more prone to experiencing heightened blood pressure and unmanaged hypertension.‌This investigation, featured in the Nature Digital Medicine journal, represents the first to utilise multiple evening home-based monitoring systems across an extended timeframe to examine the relationship between snoring and blood pressure levels.‌"For the first time, we can objectively say that there is a significant link between regular nighttime snoring and high blood pressure," stated principal researcher Dr Bastien Lechat from the College of Medicine and Public Health.‌"We found that 15 per cent of all participants in the study, who were primarily overweight men, snore for more than 20 per cent of the night on average and that this regular nightly snoring is associated with elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension," Dr Lechat continued.NHStry to lose weight if you're overweight.sleep on your side – try taping or stitching a tennis ball to the back of your sleepwear, or buy a special pillow or bed wedge to help keep you on your side.consider asking your partner to use earplugs if your snoring affects their sleep.‌"These results emphasise the importance of considering snoring as a factor in healthcare and treatment for sleep-related issues, particularly in managing hypertension."Snoring represents a widespread occurrence, though its harmful health consequences are regularly overlooked. Snoring frequently appears alongside sleep apnoea - a disorder characterised by sudden interruptions in breathing while asleep."We found that those who snore regularly had almost double the risk of uncontrolled hypertension. This risk nearly doubled again in individuals who snored regularly and suffered from sleep apnoea compared to those who didn't snore regularly," explained Professor Danny Eckert, Director of Sleep Health at Flinders University and the senior author of the study.‌Recent research, featured in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, examined 72,269 participants aged 40 to 79 from the UK Biobank study. It failed to determine exactly how consistent bedtime and wake-up schedules need to be – merely that greater variation increases the likelihood of adverse effects. The study's principal researcher, Jean-Philippe Chaput, from the University of Ottawa, explained: "We should aim to wake up and go to sleep within 30 minutes of the same time each night and each morning, including weekends. Within an hour of the same time is good but less good than 30 minutes, and even better is to have zero variation."Beyond an hour's difference each night and each morning means irregular sleep. That can have negative health impacts. The closer you are to zero variation the better.""No one is perfect across a whole year, and if you don't have a regular sleep pattern for one or two days a week, it's not going to kill you. But if you repeatedly have irregular sleep, five or six days a week, then it becomes chronic, and that is a problem."‌Snoring by itself might indicate early warning signs of elevated blood pressure, since the disrupted rest it causes could increase the likelihood of hypertension developing. High blood pressure over extended periods, referred to as hypertension, may lead to severe medical complications including cardiac failure, strokes, cardiovascular disease, or renal conditions.The investigation drew upon information from sleep monitoring devices, positioned underneath mattresses to track snoring patterns and sleep apnoea, while also employing FDA-registered home blood pressure measurement equipment. The research extended across nine months and encompassed more than 12,000 participants worldwide.NHS advice on what NOT to do if you wish to stop snoring:do not smoke.do not consume excessive alcohol.do not take sleeping pills – these can sometimes cause snoring.‌"This is the largest study to date investigating the potential relationships between snoring, sleep apnoea and hypertension using objective assessments in people's homes, and it reveals important insights into the potential consequences of snoring on hypertension risk," Dr Lechat said.The study further underscores the importance of recognising snoring within medical practice and the management of sleep disorders, particularly with regard to regulating elevated blood pressure."The findings of this study pave the way to further investigate whether therapeutic interventions directed toward snoring can reduce hypertension and reduce the risks associated with it," he continued.Article continues belowShould you be suffering from snoring alongside signs of disrupted sleep, persistent tiredness, or witnessed breathing difficulties while asleep, it is recommended that you seek advice from your GP or a relevant specialist, who may suggest undergoing a sleep study. For additional information from the NHS, click here.