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Saint Francis Hospital 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. OSA affects 18 million Americans. It occurs when a person’s airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to their brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the person up just long enough for them to take a breath, and then they fall back asleep. This cycle continues throughout the night, repeatedly disrupting the person’s sleep. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. “Inspire therapy represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea,” said Dr. Michael Polnerow, Chief Medical Officer at Saint Francis Healthcare. “It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events and also has a high level of patient satisfaction and therapy adherence. We’re excited to be offering this promising therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP.” 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 was measured during the STAR clinical trial. One-year STAR trial results were published in 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 reductions and improvements were sustained over a five-year follow-up period. “Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea now have an alternative choice for treatment in Delaware,” said Dan Sinnott, President and CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare. “Offering this care is yet another way we are growing to meet the community’s needs and positioning ourselves to Become Delaware’s Preferred Healthcare Provider.” To learn more about Inspire therapy, please visit InspireSleep.com. For more information, please call Lauren Mancini at 302-454-7901.