Snoring heavily almost doubles the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a study shows.

Researchers in Taiwan found patients diagnosed with the snoring-related condition sleep apnoea were nearly twice as likely to suffer the joint-damaging disease, Daily Mail reported Thursday.


Scientists believe chronic sleep apnoea can lead to inflammation in blood vessels in the body, which may act as a catalyst for arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis was previously thought to be triggered when something goes wrong with the immune system.

In Britain, three million people suffer from sleep apnoea, though many more may remain undiagnosed.