Snorer.com blog
Snorer.com blog
Sleep, privacy and data confidentiality themed blog by Adrian Zacher. He tweets @snorerdotcom #snorercom
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Anti-Snoring Devices available on the internet
Over-the-Counter (OTC) anti-snoring devices are widely available. But are they any good? How do you find out what works?
In this comprehensive exposé I take a ‘deep-dive’ into each of the major claims they make and also explore how they come to be on the market. Ending with the right way to get help with problem snoring and/or drowsiness.
The ‘Stream’ is the old ‘internet in a box’
The ‘stream’ is the old internet-in-a-box but in a more sinister way. To use your data to make money from you.
Stop Worrying About Offending Obese Patients
Following my Why can't I say FAT? post, I was delighted to hear of a recent study in Oxford, that suggests GPs should proactively raise the topic of weight loss with obese patients. Professor Arroll from New Zealand, who wrote an editorial about the research, says...
Why can’t I say ‘FAT’?
The 3 letter 'F' word Fat. There it is, I’ve said it. Yet, the 'F' word is so divisive, it carries such stigma, that it has become a word you can’t say out loud. You might even feel uncomfortable using words like ‘large’ or ‘overweight’ if asked to describe someone,...
The destruction of GP/patient trust
There is no solace in saying 'Told you so' When I invented the ASAP Anonymous Sleep Apnoea Process™ in 2012, I understood that some people, for their own reasons, will not consult their GP about their symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea. Trust was in doubt. Some...
Sleep Apnoea Testing & Data Privacy – How do they relate?
Data Privacy Day Today, 28th January is #DataPrivacyDay. If you don't know why data privacy and seeking help for sleepiness could potentially threaten your income and career, you need to read this. We really do NOT want to discourage sleepy people from seeking help...
My Adventure into Sleeping Better and More
Sleep Better! The tips of this page are based on my personal 'adventure' into how I recently (with some evidence from using an ApneaLink and a NightShift) improved my sleep quality and duration, by applying the knowledge that I have gained through working in this...
Updated NICE Guidelines for Sleep Apnoea
In my view improving NHS provision and fast tracking certain individuals, at this time of austerity, has for any rational person to be considered at best, highly unrealistic. At Snorer.com we applaud the intent behind the updated NICE Guidelines for Obstructive Sleep...
What’s the Best Anti-Snoring Device?
FACT: All anti-snoring devices have side-effects Considering an Anti-Snoring Device? In this post, I review the key factors to look for. My advice is to know what you want before you buy. I will make you aware of the risks, side-effects and financial hazards involved...
Stop Snoring, treat Sleep Apnoea – Recommended by NHS Doctors
Trying to Stop Snoring? Well, if you're here, then its probably fair to say you've heard complaints about snoring - or perhaps you're the one kept awake by their snoring? Well, in order of importance, breathing for most people aces 'not snoring'... so, on this...
Chin Straps for Snoring are GARBAGE. Expert technical examination.
Chin Straps may make your snoring WORSE! Google "chinstraps for snoring" and you will see they cup your chin and have straps that go around the back of your head. How can they not pull your jaw rearwards while you sleep? Any rearward movement of your jaw - not just...
I HATE Instant Snoring ‘Cures’ – they do more harm than good.
Imagine, you have a snoring problem and like so many people, you search online for a 'cure', a quick fix - and in no time at all there it is: Your instant snoring 'cure'! Sold to you with all sorts of promises, guarantees and 'testimonials' - etc. etc. What could...
Could Snoozing KILL YOU?
Why do we ignore the Warning Signs?
This morning when I woke up, I lay there thinking about snoozing. Not thinking I wanted to snooze, but about snoozing per se. My wife was practicing the art of snoozing (repeatedly - but that's another story). I was thinking it's not a great idea. How to communicate...
Do you or your partner snore? READ ME
If you're on the receiving end of jibes about snoring, you probably feel a little persecuted. You cannot help but snore - you don't do it deliberately just to be annoying! However, if you're kept awake by a snorer you're most probably tired and not so willing to be...
Robot ‘Teddy Bear’ Pillow for Apnea?
An 'interesting' approach to sleep apnoea has been produced by the Kabe Group from Japan’s Waseda University. It is a robotised 'Teddy Bear' pillow, that moves its 'arm' to touch the individual's face/head and encourage them to turn over. As a training aid for those...
New website live today 25 Nov 14
Check out our new website! https://snorer.com Lots of new content and a bright, fresh design. Really hope you like it and that it communicates what we do now and what we intend to...
TURN OVER! You’re Snoring…
If you or your partner snore, then the words: "TURN OVER! - You're Snoring..." May be all too familiar! Of course, the premise here is that the snorer will stop snoring in a different position (off their back most probably) and the offended, sleep disrupted partner,...
Read moreWorried about the impact a diagnosis of sleep apnoea could have on your job?
Anonymous sleep testing – what’s the idea?
If you snore or your partner does - you are no doubt overwhelmed with information. Some of it good and some less so. We think you need help - so we set about providing it. Worried about the impact a diagnosis of sleep apnoea could have on your job? If you are sleepy...
Google+ debate about Mouthpieces to stop Snoring
Today, (23 Oct 13) we started a debate on Google+ about the contentious area of self diagnosis of 'snoring' (individuals ruling out obstructive sleep apnoea) and then electing to self fit an oral appliance ('mouthpiece' or 'gumshield'), as their 'treatment'. This one...
BBC “Trust me – I’m a Doctor” – Screening
UK Audience only Did anyone see the BBC TV programme "Trust me - Im a Doctor"? It was on TV last night (18 Oct 2013) and discussed different types of testing for a condition, in apparently healthy people. The real 'take home' message was provided by Prof Nicholas...
Sleep apnoea severity and its poor relationship to daytime sleepiness
You may have been told you snore, and perhaps someone has suggested you get checked out for 'sleep apnoea', whatever that is. Perhaps you are thinking "Why?" The answer is not so much that you are a damn nuisance because of your snoring, but we would guess primarily...
Riding the sleep train
This week, I had to be in London for an early morning meeting. I took the "Oh my God its early" train at 6.30AM and found a seat amongst the regular, early morning commuters. After I got settled, I noticed most of the largely male travellers, were eyes closed and...
Collaborator for ASAP(sm)
Snorer.com created the ASAP Anonymous Sleep Apnea Process℠ to help snorers get checked out for sleep apnoea - without risk to their job. For ASAP℠ to work as intended, Snorer.com needs an expert home sleep testing collaborator and we are truly delighted to say that...
We are GO ! Welcome to Snorer.com
That was really good to type! We have worked so long to create the content of the guides, develop the website and build the business relationships to make our ideas reality. It feels really good to go live and show the world. So whats it all about? At Snorer.com we...
Here we go! Build up to going LIVE!
We're getting really excited and find ourselves checking, rechecking and checking again. The plan is to go live at the end of August (so when you read this you will see how nervous and excited we were!). Final work now by our clever IT man and final tidying up on the...
Working away…
It seems that I have been working on Snorer.com forever! But now finally, I can see it taking shape and with some excellent help it is becoming a reality. So, this is a post to embarrass 😮 the kind folks who will see this (I hope!) when the site goes live. Yes, I do...
Read more“Is perhaps the next way for Governments desperate to prop up failing economies a caffeine tax?”
Taxing your Latte – a Caffeine Tax?
Are high caffeine drinks the symptom or cause of our short sleeping overtired population? While sipping a new thing to me, a Caramel Machiato (bit too sweet for me), and enjoying the 'Cafe Culture', I looked around me and a thought occurred to me. "Is perhaps the next...
Read more“A cross between jet lag and a hangover”
Sleep deprived new Dad
Its been some time since I blogged... I am now a very happy, proud and exhausted (relatively) new Dad. My son is about 5 months old. For the last 7 months, my wife and I have had disturbed sleep. The last two months of her pregnancy she was so uncomfortable that she...
Sleep apnoea and rheumatoid arthritis?
Sleep apnoea and rheumatoid arthritis?An interesting story has been covered in the Daily Mail about some Taiwanese research into sleep apnoea and arthritis.Despite the scary headline, only 2.91% of 'heavy snorers' went on to develop rheumatoid arthritis so let's not...
BBC Breakfast – Snoring & Sleep Apnoea interview with Dr Dev Banerjee
Snoring & Sleep Apnoea - BBC Breakfast 23rd April 2012Breakfast anchors Bill Turnbull and Louise Minchin interviewed a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) user Chris Fitzgerald and Dr Dev Banerjee a 'Sleep Expert'. Below are some notes and my comments re the...
Health Informatics – what’s all that about?
Health Informatics is "the interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management and planning." Procter, R. Dr.*Health Information Technology (HIT)Fastest growing segment of USD...
Does your child snore?
You might think it cute that your baby/child is snoring gently in their cot or perhaps a sign that they are sleeping well. However, sleep experts have long suspected childhood sleep related breathing disorders may harm a child. Recently, a study by Bonuck et al. was...
Sleep Apnoea – the Final Frontier?
Currently, the most common, valid treatment option for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is positive airway pressure therapy (PAP). There is however no getting away from it, PAP is not sexy and although it is undeniably effective many find it an arduous therapy to adhere...
Do you need a digital detox?
Do you need a digital detox - need to 'unplug'?Are you glued to your iPhone or Blackberry, do you have to check your email before bed and first thing in the morning? Are your kids texting throughout the night or perhaps you have a TV in your bedroom? Or perhaps you...
Guidelines for the Medical Profession?
Springtime has seen further clarity develop around the provision of mandibular repositioning devices (oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnoea). In the UK, the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine's (BSDSM) screening protocol [i] was elevated to...
Movember
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that...
Chocolate is good for you – its true – well maybe…
Chocolate is good for you - its true! For a while now chocolate has been linked with making you feel loved when you eat it or it acting as an aphrodisiac. Some people think its better than a passionate kiss with their partner - chocolate gives a bigger buzz......
Sleepless in Minneapolis
Last week, I had the privilege of attending both the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine meeting and the Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was very good to see old faces and new and follow the developments in...
A third category of oral appliance for sleep?
Custom made and universal 'One-Size-Fits-All' oral appliances comprise I believe two categories of oral appliance for snoring and sleep apnoea. On my June 2011 trip to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) meeting in Minneapolis, I enjoyed a glass with...
Sleep in the News
Ed Miliband diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea Tempting as it is to conjure up a more dramatic headline about the Labour party and Sleep... I will confine myself to merely pointing out that Ed Milliband is in the news as apparently having obstructive sleep...
Take life in your stride – Sleep More!
Take life in your stride - sleep moreThe effects of inadequate sleep, brought about through insomnia, sleep apnoea or your partner's snoring has recently been highlighted in the Daily Mail. The author focuses on insufficient sleep and its impact on his own mood but...
Artificial lights that help you sleep?
Melatonin is thought to play an important role in regulating your circadian rhythm. Following on the previous theme of 'light temperature', melatonin, sleep and the impact of this on your health. It seems that artificial light sources that produce a warm yellowish...
Artificial light, melatonin and now cancer!
Following on from my January blog post 'TV makes you Fat?' where I explored the link between artificial light, melatonin and obesity, another perspective - cancer - has been recently highlighted by the Daily Telegraph as a downside. Bluer (is that a word?) light waves...
Read moreIt’s not great.
Trying to get help to stop snoring
– its not great
I was talking to a friend about this so it might appear a bit like a rant... but here goes....I believe that snorers and their partners need valid information in a timely fashion and that most start off with a low-cost snoring device bought online or some nasal spray...
Mail Online tells it like it is?
Mail Online tells it like it is?Yes, I know its hard to believe but.... in an article published today a variety of High Street available supposed 'sleep aids' have been expert reviewed (Prof Jim Horne, Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University, UK) and the...
Getting fat from sitting still
Stand up, move more, more often It seems that going to the gym each day is only one part of becoming generally more active if you want to keep the weight off and the heart risk down.I picked up on this as it relates to the last post about how TV makes you fat, but...
TV makes you FAT?
Does TV make you fat? Across the Western world we have an obesity epidemic. Every night these same people stare at a TV or computer monitor. It could be that the light emitted by the TV disrupts sleep and hormone regulation making us more susceptible to weight gain....
Implant ‘CURE’ for obstructive sleep apnoea…
An interesting new option for sleep apnoea has been developed by a spin off from Medtronic. Inspire Medical Systems implant 'cure' is now undergoing large scale clinical trials in the US and Europe. The company hopes to receive commercial approval from the US FDA by...
A new therapy for sleep apnoea?Now if you believe the hype on the website, there has been an 'evolutionary jump' in sleep apnoea treatment. Quite what the new species looks like, how it differs from established therapies and what it adds, is not clear.While progress...
Happy Holiday drinks?
Happy Holidays!Its that time of year again - the season of good will and over indulgence - and the hangover in the morning (never mind the mountain of washing up!).So, why do we feel so bad after a few too many drinks? Well, according to Kate Hilpern writing in the...
Owl or a Lark – it’s all in the genes
Owl or a Lark - it's all in the genesIt is old news that people may feel they function better at one end of the day or another. However, why people appear to require differing total amounts of time asleep and perhaps more importantly how to identify those individuals...
Sleep and Obesity – Again
The often repeated story of a caloried controlled diet, together with exercise to achieve weight loss, now has a new twist. Getting enough sleep has been proven to impact on the amount of actual fat reduction - as opposed to losing fat and muscle mass.The 4th Oct....
Sleeping pill users may DIE more early!
Not a headline, that if you struggle getting off to sleep, you want to read!So, what's the basis for it?A recently published Canadian study of 12000 people, by Dr Belleville (published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry), took into account factors like depression,...
Can you ‘coach yourself’ to sleep better?
Can you 'coach yourself' to sleep better?An interesting new product has been launched: The Zeo Personal Sleep Coach. This product, through a headband and a wireless link, somehow monitors your sleep stages and records them for later display and personal analysis via a...
Sleep and heart risk
Sleep and heart riskLike so many things that seem common knowledge yet have to be researched and proven to be the case for anything to be done about it, some recent research has proven that not breathing is bad for your heart!So then, it is with no sense of a great...
Tart cherry juice may reduce insomnia
Tart cherry juice may reduce insomniaFor some time now we have known that melatonin plays an important role regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Some pharmaceutical companies have rushed to produce melatonin supplements and mixed results have been shown in medical...
Sleep and prospective memory
Sleep and prospective memoryAn interesting story ran recently in the Daily Telegraph (which is still free to read online...) in it the researcher, a psychologist named Dr Mark McDaniel details how 'prospective memory' is improved by sleep. Prospective memory according...
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Obesity and Diabetes
More on the worrying trio of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Obesity and Diabetes Sleeping badly or just not sleeping enough - even for just one night - reduces insulin sensitivity, according to recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and...
Read more“if someone is in high office and they react to a crisis by not sleeping then that will impact on their decision -making…”
Political decision making and the siesta
Political decision making and the siestaAccording to Judith Woods in 5th May's Telegraph an afternoon siesta was good enough for Churchill - and George Bush had a regular 9pm bedtime. This would appear to be good anecdotal evidence that historically leaders valued...
Chocolate as brain food?
Chocolate as brain food?The argument FOR dark chocolate - 150mg a day (corrected from 150 grams) is supported by a recent blog entry for 'Stop Aging Now'.It would appear that dark chocolate high in flavanols improves blood flow to the brain. Which would it is...