Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment: Everything You Need to Know!

I can’t breathe properly while sleeping!

This is due to a blockage in my upper airway. It causes me to snore. I stop breathe, and wake up suddenly.

You may be suffering from it. In the United States, about 12% of the adult population are suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Living with OSA is tough. It’s associated with serious health risks. This includes stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and heart attack. There is no cure. However, treatment can improve your sleep quality.

Inspire and sleep apnea are related to each other in an innovative way. Inspire monitors every breath you take.

Let’s explore Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment. I will discuss how it works, who is eligible, and its success rates. Keep reading!

Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment: What Is It?

Inspire Sleep Apnea Innovation is designed to help with sleep apnea. It uses Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) to keep your airway open during sleep. Once you’re eligible, a certified doctor inserts a monitoring device in your chest.

It is done during a simple outpatient procedure. Another small incision under your chin implants a nerve stimulator.

These components work in sync. What does it do? Have a look!

• It monitors your breathing and delivers gentle pulses to the nerve.
• It helps to control your tongue’s movement.
• This stimulation helps push your tongue forward, clearing your airway for better breathing.
• Once the device is implanted, it only activates when you turn it on using a remote before bedtime.

There is a success rate of this treatment. Take a glance at it!

Success Rate of Inspire for Apnea

In my experience, doctors use a scale called the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). It measures the severity of sleep apnea. The best way to find out your AHI is by scheduling a sleep study. During these studies, doctors monitor how often you stop breathing or more while asleep.

From what I’ve seen, a clinical study highlighted that post 12 months of using the Inspire device, 66% of participants reduced their AHI scores by at least 50%. This study showed that 75% of participants experienced a minimum 25% decrease in their oxygen desaturation index (ODI).

It measures how frequently blood oxygen levels drop below normal for 10 seconds or longer.

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Let us now explore how Inspire for apnea work.

How Does Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?

Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment opens your airway. It moves your tongue forward inside your mouth. It doesn’t block your breathing passages. The device consists of 3 main components:

• monitor that measures your breathing.
• nerve stimulator that adjusts your tongue placement.

Take a look at the steps of Inspire working!

1. Before going to sleep, you turn on your device with the remote.
2. Once activated, the device implanted in your upper chest begins to monitor your breathing.
3. The device communicates with the nerve stimulator. It is located under your chin each time you take a breath.
4. The stimulator sends a gentle pulse to the nerve. It controls your tongue’s motor function.
5. The stimulation causes your tongue to move toward the front of your mouth. It clears up more space for air to pass.

The treatment makes you breathe easily. You’re less likely to snore and stop breathing. This increases your overall sleep quality.

I advise you to notice if stimulation is uncomfortable or painful. You should not feel discomfort in your chest due to the device.

Learn about zepbound to reduce sleep apnea in obese people!

There are certain side effects of Inspire for Apnea. Take note of it!

What are the Side Effects of Inspire for Apnea?

• Getting Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment involves outpatient surgery, which has its risks, like infection, pain, and swelling.
• Personally, I’ve found that some individuals may experience temporary tongue weakness for a few weeks afterward.
• The most frequent side effects linked to the treatment include tongue abrasion, dry mouth, and discomfort from the nerve stimulator.
• In rare instances, there can be muscle atrophy and partial tongue paralysis.

Your doctor can adjust the device settings to help minimize these side effects. It is good that you take follow-up care. Here is how you can take it!

How Can You Improve Your Follow-Up Care for Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment?

I discovered that basic recovery usually takes a few days after installation. So, take about 2 weeks to get back to doing intense things.

Be cautious to speak with your doctor before using the device. It helps to make sure the settings were appropriate for your requirements. 30 days following the procedure, activate the device. Always begin your treatment plan after the consultation.

You should see your doctor for checkups on a regular basis. You may go over the device and its settings once or twice a year.

A battery that powers the breathing monitor lasts for about 11 years. Have another outpatient surgery to acquire a replacement when the battery starts to run low.

Have you qualified for Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment? It is important to know. Check out the eligibility in detail!

Are you Eligible for Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Inspire and sleep apnea do not always work together. Inspire Sleep Apnea Innovation is not suitable for everyone with sleep apnea. To be eligible, you must meet these specific requirements:

• OSA Diagnosis: You need a confirmed obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis with an AHI score. It must lie between 15 and 65.
• Over 18 Years Old: Only adults are eligible for this treatment.
• Tried Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) Therapy: This option is for those who’ve found CPAP therapy unsuccessful or intolerable.
• BMI Under 32: This treatment hasn’t been tested on individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 32.
• Airway Exam: An Inspire-trained doctor must review your sleep study results. They then conduct a nonsurgical airway exam. The doctor will put you to sleep with fast-acting medicine. They use a camera to examine how your airway opens and closes.
• Other Restrictions: Individuals with more than 25% central sleep apnea do not qualify. Additionally, it’s not suitable for those with complete concentric collapse at their soft palate.

Schedule a sleep study to understand any symptoms. Speak with a medical professional for a better understanding of sleep apnea.

Suffering from sleep apnea? Look for some sleeping positions!

With this guide, you’re now equipped with all the information. Say goodbye to sleep apnea and have a better and healthier life!

FAQs on Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment

1. What are the downsides of using Inspire for apnea?

Aside from the risks associated with surgery, some users might experience discomfort. It is a side effect of the Inspire device. These can include sensations like dry mouth and tongue discomfort. It is for being constantly aware of the device’s presence.

2. How much does the Inspire implant cost?

Inspire implant costs between $30,000 and $40,000 without insurance. It is an FDA-approved hypoglossal nerve stimulator. In comparison, a major surgery like MMA can cost between $80,000 and $100,000 without insurance.

3. Does insurance cover Inspire?

Yes, most major insurance providers reimburse Inspire. It is either as part of a covered policy or on an individual approval basis. Your doctor and the insurance team at Inspire will help you get the necessary approval.

4. Who should avoid using Inspire?

Inspire therapy is not suitable for patients with a complete concentric collapse at the level of the soft palate. It is not suitable for those whose central and mixed apneas make up 25% or more of their apnea-hypopnea index.

5. What is the weight requirement for Inspire?

Inspire therapy is clinically tested for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of up to 40. This range includes over 90% of U.S. adults. Most insurance policies have specific BMI guidelines. It is for covering Inspire therapy. For more details, consult your healthcare provider or a doctor trained in Inspire therapy.

6. Why choose Inspire over CPAP?

Inspire offers significant benefits: 90% of users have stopped snoring, 79% experience fewer sleep apnea events, and 94% report satisfaction with reduced daytime fatigue and fewer associated health issues. Moreover, 96% of users find Inspire for apnea superior to CPAP.

7. Is the Inspire device visible under the skin?

The pacemaker-like component of the Inspire device is implanted beneath the skin. It may be visible, appearing as a slight bulge on the chest, depending on the patient.

8. Can you undergo an MRI if you have the Inspire implant?

If you have an Inspire implant Generator Model 3028, indicated by a YELLOW MR TRIANGLE on your Patient ID Card, you are eligible for full-body MRI scans following specific guidelines. However, patients with the Inspire implant Generator Model 3024 are not eligible for MRI scans.

9. Is it possible to have Inspire removed?

Yes, it is possible to safely remove Inspire through a surgical procedure when medically necessary. However, this is rare and generally not recommended in most situations.

10. Does snoring still occur with Inspire?

Inspire has shown a significant decrease in snoring as a secondary effect. In fact, 90% of bed partners reported either no snoring or much softer snoring from their partner.