Good Rest Can't Wait - Sleep Week 2026
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Obstructive sleep apnea does not need to rule your life; Sleep Awareness Week® is a time to act, find treatment.
The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) Sleep Awareness Week® is a time to reflect on the importance of a good night’s rest.
Poor sleep has many causes including bedtime routine, diet, exercise, stress and other medical reasons such as sleep apnea and insomnia.
Sleep apnea not only leads to poor sleep, but the compounding nights that lack quality sleep can increase the risk for other serious health issues. And this is an issue that may impact more people in the next 25 years. Awareness and education to help combat a projected rise in sleep apnea prevalence is as important as ever.
Sleep Awareness Week is a good time to learn about the need for good sleep and to start the process of getting your life back. To spread this important message even further, Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. plans to partner with several social media influencers – ranging from a professional athlete, weight loss advocate and a few parents – who will share their unique OSA experiences, either as first-hand sufferers, or second-hand sufferers with bed partners who battle the sleep disorder.
“It is our job at Inspire to continue to grow the awareness of alternative therapies and the importance of properly treating obstructive sleep apnea,”
Chairman and CEO Tim Herbert said.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea symptoms include daytime fatigue, brain fog, snoring, depression and anxiety. It is also important to note that women may experience different symptoms than men.
Talking to your provider and getting a sleep study is an important first step in your journey if you suspect you have OSA. CPAP is the first-line treatment. These devices deliver air through a hose and mask to help keep your airway open during sleep. Some experience relief with CPAP and other similar machines. But many struggle or stop using them.
Inspire® therapy is an alternative option for those with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to benefit from CPAP. It received FDA approval in 2014. And there are now over 100,000 patients who have received the implant. The Inspire V™ (five) implant is the latest generation of Inspire therapy released in May 2025.
Both the previous generation and Inspire V have proven results. 92% of patients say they would choose Inspire therapy again.1 Patients who use Inspire therapy also prefer it over other treatments they tried. And they use it consistently each night. 2
Dora P. is an Inspire patient who suffered a cardiac flatline in November 2020. Her heart stopped for 19 seconds.
The medical team told her they never had anyone wake up from an asystole that severe. It turns out she developed OSA after being a firefighter for 28 years. Her heart declined as the years went on, as well.
She also had a traumatic event as a young girl. A man tried to kidnap her at school.
Photo: Dora P. is happy to be alive after a severe heart attack in 2020. Her heart health worsened due to untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Now that she treats her OSA with Inspire® therapy, she said her heart is healthier and can now treasure the people and moments in her life. She also wants to help others realize how serious untreated sleep apnea can be.
He put his hand over her mouth before her sister saved her. But this is why she couldn’t use CPAP.
Dora had untreated OSA for many years before she found out about Inspire therapy.
She is not only sleeping better today, but she feels like she has more energy than before.
Her heart health also improved. She said she feels like she has a second chance at life.
“Once I had Inspire, my arrythmias pretty much went away,” Dora said. They were non-existent pretty much – lasting a few minutes to then maybe just a few seconds. So I know that my Inspire device has totally helped my heart.”
Dora said she didn’t know how much danger she was in when not treating her OSA. She said she doesn’t take life for granted anymore.
“I really try to live each day to the fullest and enjoy my family and my friends and treasure what I do have,” she said. “And I am a lot healthier now, so I can help other people realize that sleep apnea is something serious to look into and take care of.”
If you, your partner or someone you know struggles with sleep apnea, or if traditional treatment options are not working, we encourage you to take the short quiz to see if Inspire therapy might be the answer you’re looking for.
1 Lundeen M, Aloia M, Somepalli S, Jain V. | Coca KK, Heiser C, Huntley C, et al. | Bosschieter PFN, de Vries N, Mehra R, et al.
2 Data on file
OSA prevalence projected to rise 35%
A 2019 study estimated that OSA prevalence affects 54 million in the United States.1
“Huge numbers of patients in our country, let alone the world, are suffering with obstructive sleep apnea,” said Dr. Paul Hoff, a practicing ENT and Vice President, Senior Medical Director at Inspire.
Those numbers project to rise 35% (76.6 million) by 2050 with a sharper increase for women.2
Dr. Ruchir P. Patel practices sleep medicine. He is also a Vice President, Senior Medical Director at Inspire. He said the numbers may be an underestimation. And that makes it a big issue for providers and patients. The study also estimates that GLP-1 therapies may only reduce the impact of OSA prevalence by less than 5%.2
1 Benjafield, A. V., Ayas, N.T,, Eastwood, P.R., Heinzer, R., Ip, M.S.M., Morrell, M.J., et al. (2019) Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 7(8): 687-698
2 Boers, Elroy et al. “Projecting the 30-year burden of obstructive sleep apnoea in the USA: a prospective modelling study”. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Volume 13, Issue 12, 1078 - 1086
“GLP-1s are not going to be able to slow that accelerated rate of obesity very quickly, so as a result of that, it’s not surprising that the study indicated or suggested that the GLP-1s will not have a major impact in curtailing this acceleration of the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea,”
Dr. Patel said.
Sleep apnea affects bed partners
Sleep apnea doesn’t just cause issues for those who have it. Bed partners of those with sleep apnea may also sleep poorly due to loud snoring or anxiety. And this may even lead to the need for couples to sleep in separate rooms.
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. found in a recent survey that nearly 60% of bed partners said they worry about their loved one’s health because of sleep apnea.*
And nearly half of surveyed bed partners said they aren’t getting enough sleep.* Finding the right treatment can be just as important to your partner as it is for you.
* These results were not part of a formal clinical trial. The findings are from a survey conducted by BarkleyOKRP on behalf of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., and sent to a random sample of n=1,000 bed partners of individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea.
The survey also found that 8 in 10 couples who sleep apart due to sleep apnea symptoms wish they could share a bed again.*
For those who use a surgical implant, like Inspire therapy, 9 out of 10 bed partners report their sleep doesn’t suffer because of their partner’s sleeping habits.*
Richard G. is an Inspire patient diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea after serving in Vietnam in the late 1970s.
CPAP did not work for him. This led to anxious and sleepless nights for him and his wife Diana for many years.
* These results were not part of a formal clinical trial. The findings are from a survey conducted by BarkleyOKRP on behalf of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., and sent to a random sample of n=1,000 bed partners of individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Photo: Richard G. and his wife Diana enjoy a night out together. Richard said he has his wife have a better quality of life together since he began treating his obstructive sleep apnea with Inspire® therapy. For those who use a surgical implant, like Inspire therapy, 9 out of 10 bed partners report their sleep doesn’t suffer because of their partner’s sleeping habits.¹
Today with Inspire therapy, he said he has more energy and feels healthier than he has in decades.
The best part for him is knowing his wife also gets the benefit of restful sleep.
“That is the most important – quality of life – not only for myself but for my spouse,” he said. “She doesn’t worry about that anymore. She can rest. She has a better night’s sleep.”
1 “Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions.” American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Frost & Sullivan, 2016, aasm.org/resources/pdf/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf.
Importance of treating sleep apnea
Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of serious health issues. This includes Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack, depression and a shortened life span.
80% of Americans with OSA are undiagnosed.1 According to a 2025 NSF survey, about a third of those diagnosed are currently not receiving treatment.**
The NSF survey also found that 78% of Americans are not aware of every treatment option.**
Nearly 9 in 10 adults recognize a CPAP. More than 40% are not aware of alternatives like lifestyle changes, oral appliances, implantable devices (like Inspire therapy) and medication.** It is important to talk to your provider about other options if CPAP is not working for you.
"I take a lot of pride in the opportunity we have at Inspire to continue to raise awareness of the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea,” Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Carlton Weatherby said.
“There is a very large, unmet need with alternative treatment options, like Inspire therapy, out there to make a difference in these patients’ lives to not only help them get a better night’s sleep but also live at a higher quality of life over time."
** These findings are based on a 2025 sleep survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by the National Sleep Foundation and issued in collaboration with Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. See full survey report for more on methodology and detailed results.
1 “Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions.” American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Frost & Sullivan, 2016, aasm.org/resources/pdf/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf.
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