Sleep Apnea And Inspire Therapy

West Shore ENT & Allergy

Otolaryngology & Allergy Specialists located in Norton Shores, MI & Grand Haven, MI

Sleep apnea affects both children and adults, and when it goes untreated, the condition puts you at risk of gaining weight and developing problems like high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias. At West Shore ENT & Allergy, in Norton Shores and Grand Haven, Michigan, Matthew Bowen, MD, and the team offer comprehensive care for patients of all ages who may have sleep apnea. If your partner or housemate comments about your loud snoring or you notice snoring in your child, it may be time to have a sleep apnea evaluation. To learn more, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

What causes sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when you stop breathing while you sleep. If you have a mild case of sleep apnea, your breathing stops 5-15 times every hour. In severe cases, apnea episodes occur 30 times or more per hour.

Your breathing stops when soft tissues such as your tongue relax, move toward the back of your throat, and cover the airway. When the airway is partially blocked, you snore, and when it’s fully covered, your breathing stops.

As soon as you stop breathing, oxygen levels drop. Your brain reacts and nudges you partially awake so you breathe again.

What symptoms develop if I have sleep apnea?

Loud snoring is the top symptom, but in most cases, you don’t realize you snore. Most patients learn about the problem when their partner or others in the household complain about their loud snoring.

In addition to loud snoring, the symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Fatigue during the day
Morning headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Memory problems
Frequently urinating during the night

Children with sleep apnea also snore, but their fatigue is often seen in the form of hyperactivity, oppositional behavior, and emotional swings. Children may also walk in their sleep or sleep in unusual positions.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

While your symptoms may point to sleep apnea, there’s only one way to make a positive diagnosis, and that’s with a sleep study. You may do your sleep study at home with an easy-to-use kit that records your oxygen levels, breathing, and airflow while you sleep.

In severe cases, or if your West Shore ENT & Allergy provider suspects you may have a different type of sleep disorder, you may need an overnight sleep study at a clinic.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Patients with mild sleep apnea may improve with lifestyle changes. For example, losing weight is important because carrying extra weight is a primary cause of sleep apnea.

West Shore ENT & Allergy also provides:

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP machine)
Oral appliance
Thermal ablation
Surgery

Their team also provides the Inspire device. This is a small, implantable device for patients who have obstructive sleep apnea. The device is FDA-approved and is suitable for patients who are unable to use a CPAP machine or other interventions.

With just two incisions, the Inspire device can be implanted the same day, making it an innovative, outpatient procedure.

To learn more, call West Shore ENT & Allergy, or schedule an appointment online for a sleep apnea evaluation.

What we offer