Baptist Health UAMS Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in Little Rock is now offering Inspire therapy, an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.
OSA affects 22 million Americans. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep.
Inspire therapy is a mask-free solution for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who have tried and struggled with CPAP. Through a simple-to-use system including the Inspire® implant, remote, and app, Inspire therapy enables patients to control their OSA treatment from the palm of their hand.
Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.
The safety and efficacy of Inspire was evaluated during a clinical trial. Five-year trial outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures. There have been over 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire. These publications show results consistent with those seen in the trial.
The first step is to schedule a consultation with the team at Baptist Health UAMS Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. Providers will discuss a patient’s current therapy, provide details on Inspire, and answer their questions.