Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that involves pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping. There are two types of sleep apnea – obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway. Central sleep apnea is less common and occurs when the brain doesn’t send the proper signal to the breathing muscles. Sleep apnea can disrupt sleep and reduce oxygen levels, posing serious health risks if left untreated.
Causes and Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea
While the exact cause of Sleep Apnea Implants is still unknown, common risk factors include obesity, large neck size, smoking, family history, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies or sinus problems. Men are at higher risk than women, and risk increases with age. For many, sleep apnea develops due to being overweight or having excess fatty tissue in the neck. Genetics also play a role – if one family member has sleep apnea, others are more likely to develop it.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Some common symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, pauses in breathing witnessed by bed partners, waking up gasping for air, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and irritability. People with severe sleep apnea may stop breathing for 30 seconds or more multiple times each night, leading to very fragmented sleep.
Diagnosis and Diagnostic Tests
If a person exhibits symptoms of sleep apnea, the first step is usually seeing a doctor. A complete medical history and physical exam can help determine the likelihood of the disorder. Tests that may be recommended include a home sleep test, overnight polysomnography in a sleep lab, or other sleep studies that monitor breathing, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and brain waves during sleep. These tests can confirm the presence, severity, and frequency of breathing problems.
Current Treatment Options
Currently, the most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are:
– CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy – Use of a CPAP machine supplies a constant flow of air through a mask to keep the airways open. CPAP is very effective but some patients find it uncomfortable.
– Oral appliances – Custom-made mouthpieces worn while sleeping help reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. Effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea.
– Surgery – For some patients with specific physical obstructions, surgeries like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) may be an option to reduce excess tissue in the throat. Success rates vary.
– Weight loss – Losing weight if overweight or obese can sometimes improve or eliminate sleep apnea symptoms.
– Lifestyle changes – Avoiding alcohol, sedatives, and sleeping on one’s back. Quitting smoking may also lower apnea risk.
Emerging Treatment – Sleep Apnea Implants
For patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy or do not achieve good results with oral appliances, a new treatment option involving implants is showing promise. Inspire therapy uses a small implant placed surgically under the skin near the chest wall. The implant is connected to electrodes placed around the hypoglossal nerve in the neck that controls tongue motion during sleep.
How Do Sleep Apnea Implants Work?
When sleep apnea symptoms are detected through integrated sensors in the implant that monitor breathing, the system automatically activates. This causes a mild stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve which protrudes the tongue forward and opens the airway just enough to stop the apnea event and restore breathing. The stimulation is brief and feels similar to a gentle muscle contraction. System sensors continually monitor breathing and only activate as needed, allowing natural sleep most of the time.
Benefits Over Other Treatments
Some key advantages of the Inspire system compared to CPAP and oral appliances include:
– Comfort – It allows natural breathing during sleep with no masks, mouthpieces, or headgear required. Patients report much better comfort and willingness to use it long-term.
– Effectiveness – Clinical studies show it significantly reduces apnea and improves quality of life metrics comparable to CPAP therapy in many patients.
-Customization – The level of nerve stimulation can be adjusted over time as needed through a hand-held device to continue effectively treating apnea.
-Convenience – Once implanted, all treatment occurs automatically without any daily effort from patients.
Of course, risks must be weighed as with any surgical procedure. Side effects are usually mild and temporary such as tongue discomfort or voice changes. Overall, demonstrate great promise as a minimally invasive, highly customizable, and convenient long-term treatment option. For non-CPAP users and those with moderate to severe sleep apnea, it deserves serious consideration.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc.