Inspire Sleep Therapy
by Sleep apnea
Posted on 16-09-2021 07:31 pm
Inspire Sleep Therapy - An alternative to CPAP
I'd like to discuss the inspire sleep therapy an alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnea . First let's start by discussing obstructive sleep apnea affects 22 million Americans and occurs when soft tissue in the airway collapse during sleep and block the flow of oxygen to the brain . The brain senses that lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath then the body falls back asleep this cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor disruptive sleep moderate to severe sleep apnea .
Sleep apnea has been associated with multiple adverse health conditions including early heart attack cardiomyopathy arrhythmias early dementia strokes uncontrolled hypertension diabetes and even death although pap therapy remains the most common and first-line treatment for sleep apnea a percentage of patient is intolerant to this therapy due to claustrophobia pressure intolerance travel inconveniences among multiple other reasons .
What's Inspire Therapy ?
Inspire Therapy is the only FDA approved device known to help patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are unable to use CPAP. The device is implanted in the chest wall just like a pacemaker. When sleeping, the device is turned on and constantly monitors for any breathing attempts via a sensor attached to the chest wall.
When a breath is detected, the device sends an electrical pulse to the hypoglossal nerve which in turn stimulates the tongue muscle to move forward resulting in a more open airway. Without such stimulation, the back of the tongue collapses against the throat’s back wall causing airway obstruction resulting in sleep apnea.
The device is implanted in the body via 3 surgical incisions in a same-day outpatient procedure. While asleep, the Inspire device continuously monitors breathing. Every time a breath is taken, an electrical pulse moves the tongue out of the way allowing for clear breathing without obstruction.
This is where inspire is a great option for those who are seeking alternative therapy for their sleep apnea . Inspire works inside the body with the patient's natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea inspire delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles allowing the airway to open up during sleep the patient uses a small handheld remote to turn inspire on before bed and off when they wake up no mask no hose just sleep the inspire system is made of a small battery and two small wires inspire is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through three small incisions during an outpatient procedure .
Most patients return home the same day and return to non-strenuous activities within a few days inspire is controlled by the patient using the small handheld inspired sleep remote . The inspire sleep remote is used to turn therapy on before bed and off in the morning additionally the patient can pause therapy during the night if needed and increase or decrease therapy settings.
It is also indicated for patients with less than 25 percent of central plus mixed apnea it is indicated for patients age 18 and above and are for those who are unable to use or get consistent benefit from cpap .