Inside Sleep with The Snoring Doctor Issue #8

Hello,

Welcome back to Inside Sleep! I have two interesting stories to share in this issue. First, I’ll talk about a heartwarming story involving a veteran treating their sleep apnea with the Inspire Implant. Then, I’ll discuss recent research that linked increased mortality rates to insufficient sleep among obstructive sleep apnea patients. 

I hope you enjoy this month’s issue! Let’s get into it.

Catching Up On Sleep: A Current Events Roundup

Inspire Implant improving veterans’ lives

In previous issues of this newsletter, I’ve discussed how sleep apnea impacts military veterans. As I noted in that piece, 50% of active duty military and veterans with PTSD have comorbid sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has profoundly detrimental effects on cognition and mental health, making this combination a particularly damaging one.  

Of course, this issue lies very close to my heart as a former Marine with sleep apnea who now also treats sleep apnea patients. I’ve seen the impact sleep apnea can have on people firsthand, and I’ve also seen how treating it can completely change lives. 

So, I found it heartwarming to see this story about how the Inspire Implant is helping veterans—in this specific case, Deanna King, an Air Force retiree. For years, King endured disrupted sleep patterns, unaware of the underlying cause until her daughter pointed out her persistent snoring.

Like many others diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, King initially tried the traditional CPAP machine but found it uncomfortable and ineffective. It’s not clear if the effectiveness of the device was due to a lack of adherence or not, but her struggles with CPAP are not uncommon! Fortunately, she met Dr. Supriya Singh, director of Houston VA’s Sleep Disorder Research Center, who introduced her to the Inspire device.

As long-time readers of this newsletter know, Inspire is a nerve stimulator implanted under the skin. It stimulates the tongue and palate to prevent airway obstruction during sleep. Since receiving her implant, King has noticed significant improvements in sleep quality and overall well-being. She now wakes up feeling refreshed and ready to embrace life's adventures with newfound energy. 

It warms my heart to see what Inspire can do for anyone with sleep apnea, but it’s especially nice to see it positively impact fellow veterans. Untreated sleep apnea poses serious health risks, including high blood pressure, strokes, and heart issues. This condition disproportionately affects military veterans, making effective treatment options like Inspire all the more crucial. 

Under 7 hours of sleep linked to higher mortality rates for OSA patients

Obstructive sleep apnea affects approximately 39 million adults in the United States alone. Recent research has honed in on a critical aspect of managing this condition: the duration of nightly sleep.

A study published in JAMA Network Open uncovered a significant finding: individuals with OSA who sleep less than seven hours a night face a heightened risk of mortality, independent of the severity of breathing disruptions during sleep.

Why does sleep duration matter so much? Well, experts have linked insufficient sleep to a range of health risks, including insulin resistance, obesity, and hypertension, all of which are known to increase the likelihood of serious cardiovascular events.

Researchers in this study scrutinized the sleep habits of over 2,500 individuals with OSA as part of the Sleep Heart Health Study. Almost 90% of participants routinely slept fewer than the recommended seven hours per night, and those who slept less exhibited a notably higher risk of mortality.

While these findings underscore the importance of adequate sleep duration for individuals with OSA, further research is warranted to explore whether extending sleep duration could yield tangible health benefits. Remember, the focus of this study was on the impact of getting less than seven hours of sleep for OSA patients. It did not find a magic number of hours, but maybe further research could! 

Until then, it’s not a bad idea to aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night, especially if you have sleep apnea. 

Sleep Fact

Your disordered sleep does more than make you nod off at your desk.

It’s worsening your brain fog, memory problems, and ability to focus. If you have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, or suspect that you might, seek out a sleep study. That’s the best way to learn what’s behind your sleep struggles, and it can set you on the right path toward effective treatment. 

If you aren’t sleeping well because it’s just not a priority, the fix is to prioritize sleep. Check out this post to learn a few methods for improving your sleep, and share it with your over-tired coworker!

How to further connect with The Snoring Doctor:

If you’d like to hear the latest sleep news, you’re in the right place.

To join in on the conversation, you can follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you’re ready to get treatment for your snoring and sleep apnea, reach out here to request an appointment.

Sweet dreams and happy breathing,

Dr. Ben Cilento, “The Snoring Doctor”

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