Millions of Americans experience obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that can cause serious problems such as excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, memory loss and lack of concentration. These individuals have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
While CPAP therapy is the preferred treatment method, not everybody can tolerate this. If you’re looking for an alternative to the CPAP, Inspire might be perfect for you.
What is Inspire?
Inspire is an implantable device, similar to a pacemaker, that monitors your breathing patterns while you sleep and helps keep your airway open. It does this by gently stimulating key airway muscles.
Patients use a small handheld remote to control the device, turning it on or off and pausing it during the night if needed. The device is fine tuned for your specific needs and can always be adjusted, if needed.
Why Choose Inspire?
If left untreated, OSA can lead to increased risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, memory loss, automobile accidents and other serious diseases.
A recent three-year study concluded that many patients noted significant improvements in their quality of life and daytime functioning abilities. Seventy-eight percent of patients experienced a reduction in OSA, and 80 percent reported soft or no snoring.
Candidates for Inspire must have been diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA and are unable to benefit from PAP therapy. You must not be significantly overweight.
To learn more about the Inspire procedure or to schedule an appointment, call Willamette ENT at (503) 581-1567.
“I have been going to Willamette ENT on and off for most of my life. The staff is always so friendly, and the doctors and nurses show a lot of care and compassion!”