Quincy Reporter

Quincy Medical Group issued the following announcement on Dec. 16.

Quincy Medical Group (QMG) is now offering Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy, a breakthrough obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. QMG is the first in the local area to offer this therapy.

OSA affects 18 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 therapy works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation keeps the airway open 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.

The safety and efficacy of Inspire therapy were measured during the STAR clinical trial. One-year STAR trial results were published in the January 9, 2014 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, showing patients using Inspire therapy had significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality of life measures. These significant reductions and improvements were sustained over a five-year follow-up period.

“In our practice, we see many patients with sleep apnea who have difficulty tolerating CPAP,” said Dr. Abraham Sheffield, Ear, Nose, and Throat physician with QMG. “Inspire therapy represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events and also has a high level of patient satisfaction and therapy adherence. We are very excited to offer this new therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with using CPAP.”

To set up an appointment for an evaluation, please contact your primary care provider for a referral, call the QMG Sleep Center 217-277-4056, or visit quincymedgroup.com/inspiresleep/.

Original source can be found here.