Snoring and sleep apnea are common problems. In fact, forty-five percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25% are considered habitual snorers. According to the National Heart Lung & Blood Institute, if left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.

• Blood oxygen levels are often lowered, which causes the heart to pump harder and blood pressure to rise. The result is a poor night’s sleep, which leads to drowsiness during the day and can interfere with the person’s quality of life. Prolonged suffering from obstructed sleep apnea will result in higher blood pressure and may cause enlargement of the heart, with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.
• The stress of not getting enough oxygen causes the body to produce adrenalin, a chemical that helps our bodies fight and cope with stressful situations. Adrenalin also causes blood sugar to rise, which may eventually lead to diabetes.

Now there’s a robot to help!

Researchers from Tokyo’s Waseda University have developed a robotic pillow to help those with chronic snoring and sleep apnea.

Shaped like a friendly polar bear, the robotic pillow is called “Jukusui-kun,” which means “deep sleep.” Complete with a microphone to monitor the decibel levels of the snoring, the pillow is connected to a small fuzzy-bear shaped glove device that also measures blood oxygen levels. If the breathing gets too noisy or blood oxygen levels drop too low, the robot will try to get you to turn over onto your side by brushing your cheek.

Not sure if this is enough for a lot of snorers…Maybe a robotic elbow would do the trick…or a cattle prod!