How Inspire® for Sleep Apnea Works

Getting enough high-quality sleep is essential to your health and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, more than 70 million U.S. adults struggle to get a good night’s rest, and for many people, it’s due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

With OSA, tissues in and around the throat block the airway. In response, the body wakes up briefly to clear the airway. Then, when it happens again, the body repeats the process. Unfortunately, this can happen many times throughout the night, and sufferers are usually unaware that it’s happening.

Unfortunately, this condition can cause a host of problems, such as loud snoring, daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and other issues. For many years, the standard treatment for OSA was using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which delivers air into the mouth and nose by way of a facemask.

However, many people don’t like the idea of wearing a mask or being hooked up to a machine while they sleep. This is where Inspire® comes in. Inspire is a small, implantable device that helps keep the airway open.

At Advanced Specialty Associates in St. Paul and Baxter, Minnesota, our providers are experts in treating sleep apnea, and they often recommend the Inspire system. In this blog, they explain how Inspire works and some of its many benefits.

The basics of Inspire therapy

Inspire is a breakthrough treatment designed for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Unlike traditional treatments that work externally, such as CPAP machines, Inspire operates from inside your body.

Your Advanced Specialty Associates provider implants the device during a minimally invasive procedure. Your provider also gives you a remote control to turn on the device before you go to sleep.

Then, when you go to sleep, Inspire monitors your breathing. Whenever you breathe, the device sends a gentle pulse, which moves your tongue forward to keep it out of your airway.  This means you can enjoy uninterrupted breathing and an uninterrupted night of rest.

While Inspire is generally safe, there are a few potential risks and side effects. These may include discomfort or tingling sensations, temporary tongue weakness, or changes in voice or pitch. Your provider discusses these in detail with you before proceeding with treatment.

The benefits of Inspire therapy

There are several key benefits when you select Inspire for OSA. First, since it’s a mask-free solution, you’re not tethered to a machine, and you don’t have to deal with uncomfortable straps. This also means you don’t have to carry around a machine when you travel. 

Second, since the device gets implanted, there's no daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance involved as there is with a CPAP machine.

Finally, Inspire is easy to use. The device comes with a remote, which allows you to turn on the implanted device before bedtime and turn it off when you wake up. This puts you in control of your treatment, and you can make sure it aligns with your sleep schedule.

Candidates for Inspire therapy

Everyone is different, but generally, Inspire is a good option for adults who:

• Have moderate to severe OSA
• Haven’t found success with or can’t tolerate a CPAP machine
• Aren’t significantly overweight

Remember, everyone is different, and what works for one person’s obstructive sleep apnea might not work for another. For this reason, it’s important to consult with a provider to determine if Inspire is right for you. 

Learn more about Inspire therapy

If you’re interested in learning more about Inspire or other options for managing OSA, talk to a provider at Advanced Specialty Associates for personalized recommendations. 

Our team understands that every patient is unique, and, based on your needs, we can review different therapies that may help you, such as lifestyle changes, medications, CPAP machines, and even surgery.

Our goal is to help improve your quality of sleep and quality of life. To learn more about OSA and Inspire, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Advanced Specialty Associates today.