If you snore, have a restless night’s sleep or feel groggy all day, you may be living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While OSA erodes the quality and length of your sleep, new approaches like Inspire therapy can help you rest better so you’ll feel refreshed and energized every morning.
But what is Inspire, and how does it compare to traditional OSA treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)? Read on to explore the pros and cons of Inspire vs. CPAP, find out where to get Inspire therapy in the Inland Northwest, and learn how to schedule a sleep study near you.
Pros and cons of CPAP
If you receive an OSA diagnosis, CPAP is the first treatment your doctor will recommend. CPAP is a machine with a mask and hose. You turn on the machine and put the mask on every night right before you go to bed. Then, while you sleep, the CPAP machine delivers a constant flow of pressurized air to your airway, keeping it open. You turn the machine off and remove the mask when you wake up.
CPAP is readily available, effective and it is covered by most insurance plans. And because it’s non-invasive, you don’t need surgery or other procedures. However, CPAP has a number of cons. Clinical studies show that about 50% of people who get a CPAP machine don’t use it or stop using it within the first year. Patients report that the mask is uncomfortable or that the noise of the CPAP machine keeps them or their partners up at night. CPAP machines are also inconvenient for people who travel often, and they require constant care and maintenance.
Inspire therapy in North Idaho: Pros and cons
Inspire therapy, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014, is a safe, effective and proven treatment for OSA that’s available right here in North Idaho. The Inspire device is a surgical implant that eliminates the need for masks or machines.
During the Inspire procedure, a surgeon inserts a small device called a pulse generator into the upper chest, just below the collarbone, and a tiny sensor near your diaphragm that will monitor your breathing patterns. The pulse generator is about the size of a pacemaker and delivers stimulation to keep your airway open during sleep.
The minimally invasive Inspire surgery, performed near you at Northwest Specialty Hospital by board-certified ear, nose and throat specialists Alex Caten, MD, and Brandy Tacia, DO, takes about two-to-three hours. Most patients go home the same day and can resume normal activities within one week.
Your doctor will activate the Inspire device roughly one month after the surgery. Most people experience immediate results, including fewer sleep apnea events during the night and improved sleep quality.
How Inspire therapy works
Inspire gives patients more control over their OSA. Patients use a specially designed Inspire sleep remote to turn Inspire on right before bed, then turn off in the morning. You can also pause therapy during the night or increase and decrease the settings as needed.
Unlike CPAP, which delivers airway pressure during sleep, Inspire delivers a type of treatment called upper airway stimulation. The Inspire device monitors your breathing patterns during sleep. If an apnea event is about to occur, the device stimulates the nerve that controls the tongue (called the hypoglossal nerve) to move the tongue forward and keep your airway open.
While there are many pros to Inspire therapy, it does require surgery. In addition, the battery in the Inspire device lasts about 10 years and will need to be replaced during a second surgery when it runs out. Inspire is covered by a growing number of insurance plans; check with your health plan to ensure you have coverage.
Inspire success story: One Spokane man’s experience
Inspire is already helping local people, including Mike Steele. A firefighter and paramedic with the City of Tacoma for 38 years, Mike used to snore, and it kept his wife awake. A sleep study revealed that Mike had OSA. He tried CPAP, “but it just didn’t work for me,” Mike says.
So, Mike turned to Dr. Tacia, an Inspire Provider of Excellence who practices at Northwest Ear, Nose and Throat in Post Falls. As soon as Dr. Tacia activated Mike’s Inspire device, he noticed dramatic improvements. “I wake up in the morning feeling a whole lot better,” he says. “I’m not tired in the middle of the day, and I have more energy to do stuff.” Watch Mike’s story.
How to know if you have OSA
About 22 million people in America have OSA, including many locally in North Idaho. People at high risk include shift workers, military personnel, public safety officers, healthcare workers and miners. Symptoms include daytime sleepiness, snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches and increased irritability.
A sleep study is an overnight test that diagnoses conditions like OSA. People in the Inland Northwest who struggle to get a good night’s sleep can get a sleep study locally at Northwest Sleep Center. The center, accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, features private, luxurious rooms, comfortable queen-sized beds, state-of-the-art technology and a professional staff dedicated to providing the highest quality of care.
The results of your sleep study will show if you have OSA or other sleep-related conditions, including excessive daytime sleepiness, restless leg syndrome and pediatric limb movement disorder.
Which OSA treatment will benefit me the most?
Choosing the right OSA treatment starts by having a conversation with your medical providers. To qualify for Inspire therapy, patients must:
- Have a body mass index (BMI) under 35
- Receive a diagnosis of moderate-to-severe OSA
- Have tried a CPAP machine with little to no success
Studies show that people with OSA have a higher risk for developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to see a doctor. If you suspect you might have OSA, talk to your primary care provider and ask for a referral to Northwest Sleep Center for a sleep study. If you already have an OSA diagnosis but struggle with CPAP, call Dr. Tacia and the team at Northwest Ear, Nose and Throat at 208-262-2717 and make an appointment today to ask about Inspire sleep therapy.