HMNH offers new sleep apnea treatment

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is now offering Inspire therapy, a breakthrough obstructive sleep apnea treatment option for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy, the hospital announced in a prepared statement.

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 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.

“We are excited to offer this therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with OSA,” Robert Pretzlaff, senior vice president, chief medical officer and chief clinical officer at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, said in the statement. “Patients who are unable to tolerate CPAP now have Inspire Therapy as an option to help alleviate their OSA, giving them a better night’s sleep and decreasing serious health issues.”

The safety and efficacy of Inspire was evaluated during the STAR clinical trial. Five-year STAR trial outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-oflife measures. There have been more than 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire. These publications show results consistent with those seen in the STAR trial.

For more information, visit henrymayo.com/inspire or call 661200-1307. To learn more about Inspire, visit inspiresleep.com.