Know this the next time you are awakened by your partner’s loud snoring: He or she could be suffering from a slew of serious physiological problems.

Loud snoring and sleep apnea (a condition where sufferers wake up several times an hour because they stop breathing) are among a group of sleep related breathing disorders (SRBDs) that increase the risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, daytime sleepiness and, according to new research, depression.