Why I Created SomniSense: Using Technology to Protect My Family's Sleep Health

This seemingly simple question holds profound implications. Many of us might think our sleep is "fine," but sleep disorders have become a silent global crisis. Sleep affects not just our mental state but our overall health and quality of life. And for those who care about us, our sleep problems may be quietly affecting their lives too.

I'm the founder of SomniAI, as well as a husband, father, and engineer. This is a story about sleep, health, and love.

My Story: From Snoring to Sleep-Disordered Breathing

A few years ago, my life seemed peaceful and happy. I had a loving family, two wonderful daughters, and a software development career I was proud of. However, a health issue was quietly threatening all of this.

Since my youth, I've known I had a snoring problem. My wife had to sleep in a separate room because my snoring was so severe. We thought it was just "one of those little life annoyances," even joking occasionally: "Only people who sleep well snore." However, as time passed, I began to notice more troubling signs:

• Every morning, I would wake up feeling dizzy and exhausted, as if I'd just fought a battle, completely unrested and with a foggy brain.
• During the day, I struggled to concentrate at work, feeling constantly drained of energy. I became forgetful, even forgetting to prepare birthday gifts for my daughters.
• At night, I would wake up unknowingly, my sleep becoming fragmented. Each time I woke up, I was gasping for air, as if I'd just been pulled out of water.
• My emotions became unstable. I found myself getting irritated more easily, even becoming impatient when my daughters asked questions. My wife gently reminded me once: "You've been getting angry for no reason lately. I'm worried you might be too tired."

Initially, I thought these problems were just "work stress" or "getting older." But one day, my daughter whispered to my wife: "Does dad not like us anymore? He always seems unhappy..." Those words pierced my heart. I realized that no matter how hard I tried to hide my fatigue, my health issues were affecting my family.

The Truth About Sleep Disorders: Not Just a Minor Issue

To understand the root of the problem, I underwent PSG (polysomnography) testing. The results shocked me:

• My snoring wasn't a sign of "sleeping well," but indicated sleep-disordered breathing (with an AHI of 23.9).
• I experienced nearly 24 breathing interruptions per hour, each causing a sharp drop in blood oxygen and reducing oxygen supply to my brain.
• The doctor explained that without intervention, this condition is associated with health risks like high blood pressure and heart problems.

I was stunned by the severity of the issue, but what shocked me more was: it had been there all along, and I never realized it. These weren't just symptoms of "getting older" - they were warning signs of a condition that was gradually impacting my quality of life and health.

The Impact of Sleep Disorders: Affecting You and Those You Love

I thought this was just my problem, but when I told my wife about the test results, her response made me understand more: "I've been worried about your health for a long time, but you always said you were fine. You're the pillar of our family; you need to take care of yourself."

These words made me realize that my health isn't just "my business." My wife couldn't sleep well because of my snoring; she even moved the bed to another room to help me sleep better. My two daughters became increasingly careful due to my emotional fluctuations when tired--they would even quietly prepare breakfast on weekend mornings just to let me sleep a little longer.

In fact, sleep problems are never just one person's issue. They ripple outward, affecting those we love and those who care about us:

• Do your parents snore heavily? Do they have unstable blood pressure due to insufficient sleep?
• Does your partner always wake up with headaches but dismiss them?
• Do your friends lack energy during the day but don't know why?

Why I Created SomniSense

As an engineer, I'm used to solving problems with technology. But when facing sleep issues, I found that existing tools weren't user-friendly or accessible to everyone:

• Hospital PSG tests are accurate but expensive ($800-$3000 per test), requiring sleep in an unfamiliar environment, often yielding results that don't match real home conditions. This method also can't help people track sleep health long-term.
• Smart wearable devices are convenient but costly ($150-$500), require wearing all night, and have a long adaptation period. Most focus on sleep stages but can't detect core issues like snoring or breathing interruptions.
• Existing sleep apps focus more on "difficulty falling asleep" but rarely address key indicators like snoring, breathing pauses, or hypoventilation, lacking professional depth.

But sleep health isn't a one-time thing; it requires long-term monitoring and continuous improvement. I realized that a single diagnosis isn't enough: our condition changes daily, with lifestyle, diet, exercise, and sleeping position all affecting sleep quality. We need a tool that not only helps people discover problems but also assists them in continuously tracking their sleep health to find ways to improve.

SomniSense: An Innovative Solution for Sleep Health

So I decided to develop SomniSense, a sleep detection app that requires no wearable devices, allowing everyone to easily understand their sleep conditions and continuously improve:

For Yourself, and for Those You Love

SomniSense isn't just a tool; it's a bridge--connecting you to your health, and you to those you love.

I hope every user can, through SomniSense, not only discover their own sleep issues but also help their family and friends pay attention to their health:

• If your parents snore constantly, tell them it's not just "getting older" but might be a sign of sleep breathing issues that could be affecting their heart health.
• If your partner gasps for air in their sleep, show them you care by encouraging them to continuously monitor their sleep condition with SomniSense.
• If your friend lacks energy during the day, recommend SomniSense to them, because good sleep can change a person's life and improve their overall wellbeing.

Because health isn't just your own responsibility; it's also a form of love and commitment to your loved ones. By taking care of your sleep, you're also taking care of your relationships and everyone who depends on you being at your best.

Starting Today, Safeguard Healthy Sleep

SomniAI's mission is simple: to help everyone more easily understand their sleep issues, take action, improve health, and protect family happiness. Because we believe that good sleep isn't just for yourself; it's also for those you love.

With SomniSense, you can:

• Detect and analyze your sleep breathing patterns with clinical-grade accuracy
• Understand how lifestyle factors affect your sleep quality
• Track improvements over time with detailed trend analysis
• Make informed decisions about sleep position, pre-sleep activities, and other factors
• Share important information with healthcare providers if needed