What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep.

Types of Sleep Apnea

If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.

If you think you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor. Treatment can ease your sleep apnea symptoms and help prevent the serious health and qualify-of-life risks associated with a chronic lack of sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the tongue and other throat muscles relax during sleep, causing your airway to temporarily close.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

Central Sleep Apnea occurs when your brain forgets to breathe during sleep.

Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea (CompSA)

Complex Sleep Apnea occurs when both obstructive sleep apnea events and central sleep apnea events occur during sleep.

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Signs and Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of OSA and CSA overlap, making it difficult to determine which type you have. The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Gasping for air during sleep

  • Waking up with a dry mouth

  • Morning headaches

  • Irritability

  • Episodes where you stop breathing during sleep, reported by another person

  • Daytime fatigue

  • Difficulty staying asleep

  • Difficulty paying attention while awake

  • Difficulty thinking clearly

  • Snoring, including snoring that is especially loud and involves gasping, choking or snorting

Common Treatment for OSA

CPAP therapy is the most common treatment prescribed for people with moderate to severe OSA. While some patients experience symptom relief with CPAP, it doesn't work for many – about half of people1 who are prescribed CPAP therapy struggle or stop using it.

If you have OSA and struggle with CPAP, Inspire® therapy may work for you. Watch the video below or visit the FAQ page to learn more.

You should always consult your doctor about your concerns.

The image captures a moment between a male patient and a male healthcare provider in a medical office.

1 Rotenberg et al. Trends in CPAP adherence over twenty tears of data collection: a flattened curve. Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2016; 45:43

How does Inspire® therapy treat OSA?

Inspire therapy works differently from other OSA treatments you've tried. Instead of using a machine outside of your body to force air into your airway through a hose and mask, the Inspire® implant works comfortably1 inside your body to treat the root cause of your obstructive sleep apnea.

When we sleep, our airway muscles and tongue relax. For people with OSA, the tongue relaxes into a position that blocks the airway.

When your airway is blocked you get less oxygen to your brain, triggering you to wake up to take a breath. This cycle happens repeatedly, preventing quality sleep.

The Inspire implant delivers gentle pulses that move your tongue out of the way each time you take a breath, keeping your airway open while you sleep soundly. No mask or hose required.

1 Suurna MV, Steffen A, Boon M, et al. Impact of Body Mass Index and Discomfort on Upper Airway Stimulation: ADHERE Registry 2020 Update. Laryngoscope 2021; 131(11): 2616-2624

The Inspire® Therapy Process

Inspire-trained providers are available in all 50 U.S. states to help you through each important step in the Inspire therapy process. The following videos demonstrate the typical process for getting Inspire therapy.

The image portrays a person sleeping with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.

01

Learn About Inspire Therapy

Unlike other obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapies, the Inspire® implant works comfortably1 inside your body to help keep your airway open while you sleep, so you can breathe regularly and sleep soundly.

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02

Attend An Inspire Therapy Consultation

Meet with an Inspire-trained provider. They will ask you questions about your OSA and your experiences with CPAP to help guide you through next steps.

The image captures a moment inside a medical facility where a male patient, seated, is interacting with a healthcare professional standing opposite him.

03

Complete An Airway Exam

The airway exam is a simple checkup to confirm the Inspire implant will work for you. Your provider will use a tiny camera to look inside your airway. It usually takes about 20 minutes. The airway exam is a safe procedure with minimal discomfort.2

The image features a man smiling at the camera, wearing a hospital gown and a hair net.

04

Get The Inspire Implant

The small Inspire® implant is placed near your collarbone during a short and safe outpatient procedure.3* After the safe procedure, most people take over-the-counter pain medication and, within a few days, can resume non-strenuous activities.

The image shows a close-up of a hand holding a Inspire Therapy device.

05

Turn On Inspire Therapy

During a follow-up appointment, your provider will turn on your Inspire therapy, review how to use your Inspire™ remote, and spend time walking you through your step-up plan. This step-up plan will help you get into the routine of turning on your therapy and help guide you to the right therapy level for you.

The image shows a man with a beard and dark hair, lying down with a relaxed expression.

06

Complete A Sleep Study

The final step in the Inspire therapy process is a sleep study to verify Inspire therapy is meeting your “sleep better” goals. After this sleep study, you will meet with your provider to review your results and establish a long-term follow-up plan.

1 Suurna MV, Steffen A, Boon M, et al. Impact of Body Mass Index and Discomfort on Upper Airway Stimulation: ADHERE Registry 2020 Update. Laryngoscope 2021; 131(11): 2616-2624

2 De Vito A., Carrasco Llatas M., Ravesloot M.J., Kotecha B., De Vries N., Hamans E., Maurer J., Bosi M., Blumen M., Heiser C., et al. European position paper on drug-induced sleep endoscopy: 2017 Update. Clin. Otolaryngol. 2018;43:1541–1552. doi: 10.1111/coa.13213.

3 Suurna MV, Steffen A, Boon M, et al. Impact of Body Mass Index and Discomfort on Upper Airway Stimulation: ADHERE Registry 2020 Update. Laryngoscope 2021; 131(11): 2616-2624

* Individual results may vary. As with any surgically implanted device, there are risks associated with the Inspire system. See safety information at inspiresleep.com/safety.

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Do I qualify for Inspire therapy?

People with OSA experience repeated sleep disruptions and shallower overall sleep, which can lead to sleep deprivation. When you live with OSA, you're at a higher risk for serious health concerns – like Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack, depression and a shortened life span – and harm your overall quality of life.1

1 Franklin KA, Lindberg E. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in the population-a review on the epidemiology of sleep apnea. 7(8):1311-1322.

Attend a free informational event to learn more from Inspire-trained providers.