Is Inspire Right For Me?
Struggling with CPAP for sleep apnea? Learn how Inspire therapy works, who qualifies, and why it may be the right solution for better sleep and health.
If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you know how disruptive it can be. Disruptive not just for your nighttime sleep, but for your daytime energy and overall health. Untreated OSA causes fatigue, high blood pressure, other heart problems, and increased accident risk.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the gold standard treatment for OSA, and CPAP works very well for many people. However, some patients have a really hard time with it and simply cannot tolerate keeping the mask on all night. If this describes you, Inspire may be a good option.
What is Inspire?
Inspire is an implantable device that treats obstructive sleep apnea by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve, the nerve that controls your tongue. During sleep apnea, your tongue and soft tissues can relax backward, blocking your airway. Inspire gently stimulates the tongue muscles during sleep so they move forward while you breath, keeping your airway open.
The system has two parts:
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation lead in the neck
Pulse generator and breathing sensor in the chest
It’s turned on at night using a small handheld remote. When you breathe in, the device delivers a mild pulse to the hypoglossal nerve, moving your tongue forward just enough to maintain an open airway.
Who is a Good Candidate?
Inspire is designed for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who:
Have tried CPAP and cannot tolerate it
Are not significantly overweight (usually BMI < 35 or <40, depending on insurance)
Before Inspire can be implanted, patients undergo a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). This is a quick procedure done under light sedation to see exactly how your airway collapses during sleep. Inspire works best for patients whose collapse is not a complete concentric collapse at the level of the soft palate.
What Do Patients Say About It?
Most Inspire patients report:
Better sleep quality and less snoring
Improved daytime alertness
Feeling more like themselves again — with more energy and focus
In published studies, Inspire reduced AHI by about 70% on average, and over 90% of patients said they were satisfied with the therapy. The device is completely silent, hidden under the skin, and requires minimal maintenance — just turning it on and off with the remote.
Is Inspire Right for You?
If you struggle with CPAP and meet the above criteria, Inspire could be a life-changing alternative. The best next step is to schedule a consultation today. Inspire therapy is not for everyone, but for the right patient, it is a powerful, mask-free way to finally get restful sleep.
