A New Solution For Sleep Apnea

By Eskender Beyene, MD, FCCP

SLEEP! Testing & Treatment

. https://www.yoursleepspecialist.com/

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A New Solution For Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious and highly prevalent disease characterized by the repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway, often causing loud snoring.

These recurring obstructions cause intermittent drops in oxygen and sleep fragmentation leading to daytime sleepiness, increased risk of cardiovascular incidents (heart attack and stroke), motor vehicle and occupational accidents, diabetes, hypertension, and an overall reduction in quality of life.

In the U.S., an estimated 18 million people have sleep apnea but only 80% are currently diagnosed. The risk factors for sleep apnea include excess weight, a large neck circumference, narrowed airway, being male, family history, and smoking. Symptoms of sleep apnea are excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation during sleep, abrupt awakening with the sensation of choking or shortness of breath, morning headaches, and dry mouth in the morning.

The diagnosis and severity of sleep apnea are established by a sleep study. Properly treated sleep apnea reduces the severity of co-morbidities, leading to improved health. This includes a significant reduction in blood pressure, a decrease in risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, and improved glucose control in patients with diabetes.

Sleep apnea is treated with lifestyle changes, surgery, dental appliance, CPAP therapy, or implantable neurostimulation technology. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard therapy for sleep apnea. Many patients are successfully treated with CPAP, however, some are intolerant of, or non-compliant with CPAP therapy. Providing effective treatment to these patients, especially for those with moderate to severe sleep apnea, can be challenging.

In April 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first implantable device to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Inspire’s implantable system is a safe and effective therapy for moderate to severe OSA patients who cannot tolerate CPAP.

While sleeping the muscle tone in our throats relax resulting, for some, in the collapsed airway that causes sleep apnea. Researchers have pinpointed that when the hypoglossal nerve is stimulated, the airway opens up. The body no longer has to continually wake itself up to restore muscle tone to allow for easier breathing.

Inspire therapy uses implantable neurostimulation technology designed to address tongue-based obstructions. The Inspire system is comprised of three implantable components: a programmable neurostimulator, a stimulation lead that delivers energy to the hypoglossal nerve, and a pressure sensing lead that senses respiration. The device is implanted under general anesthesia in an out-patient setting; the therapy is activated during sleep and stimulates the hypoglossal nerve, causing tongue advancement and multi-level airway opening.

Inspire therapy has been shown to be highly effective and predictable, and fills a significant void in the current treatment continuum.