The Inspire system offers sleep apnea relief without the CPAP
It’s estimated that nearly 30 million Americans experience some form of sleep apnea, and that most of them don’t even know it. That’s nearly 1 in every 10 Americans experiencing breathing difficulties during the night—and the daytime effects and symptoms that come with those difficulties—with no awareness of the cause or the potential relief.
With the opening of the new Sarasota Memorial Sleep Disorder Center, Healthe-Matters spoke with Peter S. Vosler, MD, a board-certified head and neck surgeon, about what sleep apnea is, how to recognize it, and how the latest treatment is a lifesaver for some.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Signs of Untreated Sleep Apnea
- Excessive fatigue
- Loud snoring
- Waking up choking/gasping
- Morning dry mouth
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Depression
- Sexual dysfunction
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start several times throughout the night, preventing restorative sleep and affecting blood oxygen levels. These episodes last at least 10 seconds and can lead to even greater health concerns, if left untreated.
Sleep apnea is typically caused by intermittent failure of the muscles in the throat—or the part of the brain signaling those muscles—but can also be affected by enlarged tonsils, excess fat deposits in the neck, drinking alcohol and smoking.
There are two types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.
- Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep and physically block the airway.
- Central sleep apnea occurs when the sleeping brain does not send the signals that tell your muscles to breathe.
In some cases, the effects are so severe that people find themselves suddenly falling asleep throughout the day—even when stopped at a stoplight.
Still, Dr. Vosler says, “The long-term effects of sleep apnea are much more concerning.”
Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to a wide range of serious conditions, including coronary artery disease, increased risk of heart attack and diabetes, memory loss, dementia, and a lower life expectancy overall.
From Masking the Problem to a Modern Solution
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine. This device gently delivers air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleeping. The mask is worn throughout the night and removed in the morning.
Effective but inelegant, many patients find the mask uncomfortable and struggle to wear it through the night, thus struggle to control their sleep apnea. "Some people just can't tolerate it," says Dr. Vosler. "They put it on every night and it's on the floor every morning. Meanwhile, there are long-term side effects of sleep apnea that accumulate and that you don't want."
Healthy Habits for Sleep Hygiene
Scheduled Sleep: Discipline your internal clock by going to sleep and waking up at roughly the same time every morning—even on weekends.
Relaxing Routine: Prepare for bed each night by winding down with a book, some light music, or meditation.
Careful Consumption: Avoid stimulants like coffee or nicotine before bed, as well as large meals and alcohol.
Stop Screentime: For at least an hour before bed, turn off the TV, close the laptop and put down the phone. The computer has a Sleep Mode and so do you.
And remember:
Consistency Is Key.
Enter the Inspire system.
The latest treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea at Sarasota Memorial, the Inspire system is a small device implanted near the collarbone to monitor breathing at night and regulate the muscles that keep the airway open. Activated by remote control, patients can turn it on when they go to sleep, turn it off when they wake up, and adjust stimulation strength as necessary.
How does it work?
“It’s called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator,” says Dr. Vosler. “When the airway in your throat collapses, it's because of your muscles relaxing. This device stimulates those muscles to open up the throat and allow you to breathe normally.”
An outpatient procedure, implanting the Inspire takes less than an hour. Pain in recovery is mild and post-operative discomfort resolved by the two-week mark. Risks are minimal.
A month following the surgery, the Inspire is activated and the patient can work with their sleep doctor to fine-tune the device to their needs. At that point, a vast majority of patients find their symptoms greatly reduced or even completely resolved.
“Every patient is different and CPAP isn't the best fit for everyone,” Dr. Vosler says. “Inspire gives those patients an option.”
Hear more from Dr. Vosler on surgical treatment for sleep apnea with this episode of HealthCasts:
Surgical Treatment for Sleep Apnea | HealthCasts Season 6, Episode 7 from SMHCS on Vimeo.
To request an appointment with Dr. Vosler, click here.
Edited by Sarasota Memorial copywriter Philip Lederer, MA, who crafts a variety of external communications for the healthcare system. SMH’s in-house wordsmith, Lederer earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Philosophy from Morehead State University, KY, and snores like a rusty chainsaw.