Track chronic snoring with SnoreLab App
Snoring is the sound produced during sleep by the vibration of the soft tissues in the upper airway, including the nose and throat. It mostly occurs during the intake of breathe but can also happen when breathing out. Almost everyone has snored at some point or another but chronic snoring occurs in 44% of men and 28% of women between the ages of 30 – 60.
What causes snoring?
Snoring is usually an indicator that the nose or throat may be partially obstructed during sleep creating difficulties in moving air. The result of this is the air being moved turbulently through the airway, causing oral pharynx to collapeethe vibration and sound of snoring.
There are a number of conditions that snoring is associated with including:
- Obesity
- Nasal congestion from colds or allergies
- Under active thyroid
- Hormone problems such as acromegaly
- Enlarged adenoids or tonsils
- Abnormal facial development
There are also some non-physiological factors that could cause snoring such as; alcohol and medications that relax muscles.
What are the consequences of snoring?
Mild snoring is not likely to have much of an effect on your sleep quality but if it is more severe with the airway being more obstructed, the effort to breathe increases resulting in lowered blood oxygen levels. This made cause temporary wakefulness that disrupts your sleep. Chronic snoring is also a problem when it begins to affect bed partners by interrupting their sleep and often resulting in special sleep arrangements where they sleep elsewhere.
Symptoms of snoring
It can be difficult to self-diagnose chronic snoring, particularly if you sleep on your own but there are a number of symptoms that may indicate that you should visit a doctor for further evaluation:
- Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
- Excessive sleepiness during the daytime
- Difficulty with concentration
- Headaches in the morning
- Sore throat upon waking
- Restless sleep
- Choking or gasping at night
- High blood pressure
- Chest pains at night
- Snoring so loud it disrupts partner’s sleep
- In children, poor attention span and performance in school as well as behavioural issues
These symptoms may all be signs of obstructive sleep apnea and anyone who snores chronically – including children, should have further evaluation.
How to treat snoring
Certain lifestyle changes can help alleviate snoring such as; losing weight, avoiding alcohol before bedtime and even sleeping on your side. There are also a number of medical devices and surgical procedures that may reduce disruptive snoring, however they may not be suitable or necessary for everyone who snores.
What is SnoreLab App?
SnoreLab App for Mobile Devices Snoring is an early sign of an airway disorder that significantly affects sleep and overall health. In the past, snoring was only viewed as an annoying noise, doctors have come to understand that it is a sign of airway compromise that can have serious health effects. SnoreLab is an app for your mobile phone or iPad that tracks and records your sleeping sounds to give you details of any snoring. The app can be used to monitor snoring and any patterns that may vary from night to night.
How does SnoreLab work?
SnoreLab app features advanced snore detection algorithms that record sound samples of your snoring that you can playback at a later stage. The app measures snore intensity (Snore Score) and compares snoring across nights. It can be used to see how foods, alcohol and medication all affect your sleep and snoring. SnoreLab also tests the effectiveness of any snoring remedies that you may use. It is the ideal way to investigate snoring for those who sleep on their own as it tracks sleep statistics over time, is easy to use and needs no calibration.
For more information about breathing and sleep, contact Pittsford Dental Excellence Centre (585) 248 2575
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