Community Hospital is pleased to announce that Grand Valley ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeons is now offering Inspire therapy, a breakthrough treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.

This new treatment option is provided in coordination with Community Hospital’s sleep medicine specialist, Dr. Omar McTabi, a board-certified, fellowship-trained pulmonary and critical care physician with Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care of the Grand Valley.

OSA affects 22 million Americans. When left untreated, it can lead to vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. OSA occurs when the airway collapses during sleep, blocking the flow of oxygen to the brain. 

The brain senses a lack of oxygen and briefly wakes the body to take a breath, only to fall back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night, resulting in poor, disruptive sleep.

Inspire works within the body, utilizing the 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 upon waking.

The safety and efficacy of Inspire were evaluated during the STAR clinical trial. Five-year outcomes from the STAR trial show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and improvements in quality-of-life measures. 

There have been over 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire, which show results consistent with those seen in the STAR trial.

“In our practice, we see many patients who have stopped using or are unable to tolerate CPAP,” said Dr. Adam Baker, a board-certified, fellowship-trained otolaryngologist with Community Hospital’s Grand Valley ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeons. 

“Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events, has a high level of patient satisfaction, and high therapy adherence. We are excited to offer this promising therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP,” added Dr. Baker.

For more information on Inspire, visit InspireSleep.com.