What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

The new treatment - known as Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy - offers the first implantable device for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The therapy works from inside the body and with the patient's natural breathing process.

What is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea?

CPAP is considered the most effective OSA treatment, but many people prescribed CPAP do not use it as often as they should. CPAP therapy is less effective at treating central sleep apnea.

Is there an alternative to a CPAP machine?

If CPAP isn't for you, a few other OSA treatment options include: an oral appliance. bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) nasal valve therapy.

What's better than a CPAP?

BiPAP, or BiLevel PAP therapy, works in a similar manner as CPAP. Instead of one single pressure, BiPAP uses two pressures – an inhale pressure and a lower exhale pressure. BiPAP is often used as an alternative to CPAP for sleep apnea when patients also present with lung issues, like COPD.

Which is better CPAP or oral appliance?

Studies have found that oral devices for mild to moderate cases are just as effective as a CPAP machine for “reducing the risk of fatal cardiovascular events.” However, a CPAP machine is recommended for extremely or morbidly obese persons or those that have more severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

New treatment for Sleep Apnea

Can sleep apnea be cured completely?

CPAP and oral appliances work well, but they're not cures for sleep apnea. The only sure way to rid yourself of the condition for good is to either lose weight or have surgery to remove excess tissue from the palate or throat. Surgery can have side effects, which is why it's usually viewed as a last resort.

Is there a surgery to cure sleep apnea?

You may still need CPAP after surgery. The surgery called tracheostomy (which puts a permanent opening in your neck to your windpipe) almost always cures sleep apnea that is caused by blockage of the upper airway. But other treatments work almost as well in most people. And the surgery can cause many complications.

What is the success rate of sleep apnea surgery?

Unfortunately, many patients cannot tolerate CPAP and seek surgical alternatives. The reported surgical success rates range between 25 and 100% with most studies achieving a 50-70% success rate. The severity of the sleep apnea, as well as the patient's physical features influence the surgical success rate.

Does your heart stop with sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is diagnosed when you stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer — at least five times an hour — during sleep. Researchers suspect sleep apnea causes abnormal heart rhythms, which lead to sudden cardiac death, for a number of reasons.

Where is inspire implanted?

The Inspire upper airway stimulation system consists of a small impulse generator implanted beneath the clavicle, a tunneled breathing sensing lead placed between the external and intercostal muscles, and a tunneled stimulation lead attached to the branch of the hypoglossal nerve that produces tongue protrusion.

How long can you live with sleep apnea?

If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years.

Does sleep apnea cause dementia?

Sleep apnea is considered a risk factor for dementia. People with sleep apnea have been shown not only to have impaired memory and executive function, but also biomarker changes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Does sleep apnea get worse with age?

Unfortunately, older adults are at higher risk of sleep apnea purely because of their age. While there is no cure or prevention for aging, there are ways for older adults to reduce their risk for sleep apnea, including: Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and avoiding too many naps.

Can a mouthguard replace CPAP?

Mouthpieces can also be used as an alternative to CPAP for sleep apnea treatment. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition, if untreated, can lead to heart disease and stroke. Sleep apnea mouth guards are custom made by dentists using a plastic-like mold to form to the specific shape of the patient's teeth and mouth.

What is the cost of a dental appliance for sleep apnea?

Oral Appliance Costs

Mouthpieces and other oral appliances can help treat mild to moderate sleep apnea and snoring. The average cost for a sleep apnea mouth guard ranges from $1,800 to $2,000. This includes the appliance, dental visits, and follow-ups. Many health insurance companies will cover the expense.

What can I buy over the counter for sleep apnea?

Are bananas good for sleep apnea?

Bananas. Although bananas are known to be a great source of potassium and fiber, they actually can increase your mucus production in your mouth and throat. This can sometimes dramatically worsen breathing problems, and it can exacerbate your sleep apnea.

Can CPAP machine cause damage to the brain?

This brain damage was accompanied by impairments to cognition, mood and daytime alertness. Although three months of CPAP therapy produced only limited improvements to damaged brain structures, 12 months of CPAP therapy led to an almost complete reversal of white matter abnormalities.

What happens to the brain with sleep apnea?

From research conducted at UCLA over the past 12 years, experts have learned that the gasping during the night that characterizes obstructive sleep apnea can damage the brain in ways that lead to high blood pressure, depression, memory loss and anxiety.

What is the chance of dying from sleep apnea?

About 19 percent of participants with severe sleep apnea died (12 deaths), compared with about four percent of participants with no sleep apnea (46 deaths).

Can you suffocate in your sleep from sleep apnea?

American Sleep Apnea Association. Yes, you can die from sleep apnea.

What is the best sleep position for sleep apnea?

Sleeping on the left side

It's by far the most effective sleep position to help control sleep apnea. It's considered to encourage blood flow, reduce snoring and calm sleep apnea. In fact, research points out that left side-sleepers experience less severe sleep apnea occurrences.

Who is a good candidate for Inspire?

To qualify for Inspire upper airway stimulation therapy, patients must have a body mass index (BMI) of 32 or below and their sleep apnea must wake them between 15 and 65 times per hour.

Who can't use inspire?

Contraindications for the use of Inspire UAS therapy include the following: Central + mixed apneas >25% of the total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) Any anatomical finding that would compromise the performance of upper airway stimulation, such as the presence of complete concentric collapse of the soft palate.