Doctor warns of winter sleep apnea risksBy William Hetherington / Staff writer, with CNAMore than half of people with hypertension also have sleep apnea, leading to nighttime oxygen deprivation that can place undue stress on the heart, especially in the winter, a doctor said. “The most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is loud snoring. When combined with nighttime hypoxia from sleep apnea, the heart’s workload can reach its limit,” he said, adding that more than 50 percent of people with hypertension he treats also have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea also hampers weight loss, as breathing interruptions prevent deep sleep, reducing leptin secretion and making the brain less responsive to satiety signals, he said. “Home sleep testing allows professional evaluation of sleep apnea to be conducted in a familiar environment.”

Source: Taipei Times February 02, 2026 17:12 UTC