Snoring & Sleep Apnea Specialist

What’s the Difference Between Snoring and Sleep Apnea?

Snoring and sleep apnea are two separate conditions that share similar symptoms. It’s important to understand the difference between them, however, as the treatment for each issue is unique.

Snoring results when the tissues in the throat are relaxed to the point that they partially block your airway. When this happens, the tissue vibrates and creates the sound of snoring. Snoring can be loud or soft, depending on individual factors like body weight or sleeping position.

Loud snoring often characterizes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It also causes the sleeper to take shallow breaths or pause during breathing while they are asleep.

If you have OSA, your breathing patterns are abnormal during sleep, and being overweight or having large tonsils can worsen those patterns.

How are Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treated?

Snoring and sleep apnea can be treated in several different ways, and outcomes depend on the individual.

With snoring, treatment may include a weight loss plan, a decrease in alcohol consumption, trying new sleeping positions, or using nasal strips to open up the airways passages. In extreme cases, surgery might be necessary to help reconstruct the nose and sinuses.

With OSA, many patients need to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which use a mask that fits over your mouth or nose. The mask is attached to a tube that blows air into your lungs and maintains air pressure so you can breathe normally while you sleep.

What Results Can I Expect From Treatment?

Snoring treatments vary from one individual to the next, and your results depend primarily on how well you can maintain consistency with your treatment plan.

Sleep apnea, for example, can often be significantly reduced or cured with weight loss and lifestyle changes. Usually, snoring subsides or lessens when underlying sinus problems such as allergies are treated.

You can improve your results and reduce your symptoms by maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol consumption, and keeping your room free of allergens that might interfere with your breathing.

To learn more about snoring and sleep apnea treatment, book an appointment today using the easy online scheduler. 

Inspire Therapy for Sleep Apnea

Our surgeons are proud to offer Inspire therapy is a breakthrough implantable treatment option for people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea who are unable to use or get consistent benefit from CPAP. While you are sleeping, Inspire monitors every breath you take. Based on your unique breathing patterns, the system delivers mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the movement of your tongue and other key airway muscles. By stimulating these muscles, the airway remains open during sleep.

How it works?

Inspire therapy is controlled by a small handheld sleep remote. The remote allows you to turn Inspire therapy on before bed and off when you wake up, increase and decrease stimulation strength, and pause during the night if needed.    Click for How Does Inspire Work

Is Inspire Therapy for Sleep Apnea Right for You?

Here are some reasons people like you have chosen Inspire therapy to treat their sleep apnea.

• Concerns about sleep deprivation and lack of oxygen during sleep, which may cause short- and long-term health risks (i.e. heart disease, heart attack, stroke, depression and memory loss).
• Feeling too tired for work, family activities, driving or exercise.
• Are unable to use or get consistent benefit from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines
• Desire for a more peaceful sleep experience with their bed partner

Click here for What people say about their Inspire journey

How Effective is Inspire Therapy for Sleep Apnea?

Inspire therapy is safe, clinically proven, and FDA-approved.

The safety and effectiveness of Inspire therapy has been measured in over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Studies show patients using Inspire therapy experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events, increased daytime activity levels, and reduced daytime sleepiness.

AVERAGE SLEEP APNEA EVENTS/HOUR (APNEA-HYPOPNEA INDEX)

What to Expect on Your Office Visit

During an office visit, Dr. Ashby will review your:

SLEEP STUDY RESULTS

• If you have not had a sleep study within the last two years, you may need a new one
• Sleep studies can be performed at home or in a sleep lab

SLEEP APNEA SEVERITY & HISTORY

• Inspire is intended for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea patients who are unable to use or get benefit from CPAP

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

• BMI is a calculation based on height and weight
• BMI requirements very by Insurance Plans.  Medicare <35BMI, some commercial plans <32BMI

AIRWAY ANATOMY

• Your airway anatomy will be checked during an airway exam. The exam will help your doctor find the airway blockage that is causing your sleep apnea. This is done both in the clinic and at a short outpatient procedure.

Based on your results, the doctor will let you know if you’re a good candidate for Inspire and start the insurance process.

• As of March 1, 2021 over 230 insurance providers have covered the cost of the procedure, including Medicare , Priority Health, BCBSMI and many more.
• Inspire is also on the Federal Supply Schedule, making it available for active military members, veterans, and their beneficiaries at select VA and military hospitals across the US
• The insurance team at Inspire Medical Systems will work with your doctor to submit a request for insurance approval before the procedure
• If you are given approval, the surgery will be scheduled
• Patients can typically expect to pay the cost of any unmet deductible for the year, along with any required copay or coinsurance fee for a surgery

Click here to learn more about Inspire download the Inspire app by clicking: https://www.inspiresleep.com/app/

 Or visit the website www.inspiresleep.com

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us by calling us at 269-201-5267.