Snoring during Pregnancy Could Mean Gestational Diabetes

(Newswire) -- For pregnant women, snoring may mean more than just sleepless nights for their husbands.

New research from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine suggests pregnant women who snore at least 3 nights per week are more likely to develop gestational diabetes. This development can lead to future health issues for both mother and baby.

In the study, 189 healthy women completed two sleep surveys, one at the time of enrollment and the second during their third trimester. Women who were frequent snorers had a 14.3 percent chance of developing gestational diabetes compared to a 3.3 percent chance for those who did not snore often.

The study also revealed the likelihood of snoring increases during pregnancy, possibly because of excess body weight and fluid build-up that creates increased airway resistance. The study's author suggests women who experience frequent snoring during pregnancy seek a consultation with a sleep specialist.

SOURCE: SLEEP 2009 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, June 11, 2009

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