Zhong Nanshan, a professor at Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told a seminar in the capital of south China's Guangdong Province that people with a long history of heavy snoring, especially aged from 30 to 60, should consult a doctor as early as possible because they were at greater risk of developing sleep apnea syndrome.

Zhong cited two local hospitals where more than 100 people were admitted with the disease every month.

Sleep apnea syndrome is defined as having more than 30 pauses in their breathing over a seven-hour period of sleep or five incidents of a breathing disorder per hour.

The disease is believed to damage the lungs, heart and brain and cause hypertension, heart disease and diabetes.

People suffering from sleep apnea syndrome usually snored and slept unsoundly and sometimes were afflicted with reduced memory, Zhong said.

The disease was easy to diagnose, he said. A medical device like a vest collected data for diagnosis during a period of sleep.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2002)