Dr. Deborah Loney at Wellington Regional Medical Center is now offering Inspire therapy, a breakthrough obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects 22 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.
When this happens, 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 works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway 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 was evaluated during the product’s STAR clinical trial. Five-year outcomes show patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures.
There have been more than 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire. These publications show results consistent with those seen in the STAR clinical trial.
“In our practice, we see many patients who have stopped using or are unable to tolerate CPAP,” Loney said. “Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events, has a high level of patient satisfaction and a high therapy adherence. We are excited to offer this promising therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP.”
To learn more about Inspire for sleep apnea, visit www.inspiresleep.com or www.wellingtonregional.com.
Loney practices otolaryngology, which is more commonly known as an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor. In her practice, she works with many patients suffering from sleep apnea.
Originally from New York, Loney completed her undergraduate work at Queens College. For medical school, she attended Stanford University’s School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California. There, she spent five years studying and doing medical research, and realized that she wanted to be an ENT. After graduating from Stanford, Loney headed to the University of Iowa in Iowa City for her residency. She worked at many locations around the United States and the world before moving to Palm Beach County to be closer to her family.
Both for sleep apnea patients, and for those with other ENT issues, Loney spends a great deal of time encouraging her patients to lead healthier lifestyles. “Watch what you eat, moderation is key. No. 1 is don’t smoke,” Loney said. “I also tell people, especially younger people, to not listen to loud music.”
Wellington Regional Medical Center is a 235-bed acute care hospital accredited by the Joint Commission. Celebrating more than 30 years of treating residents in Wellington and the surrounding communities, the hospital offers a wide range of services, including comprehensive stroke care, a comprehensive lung program, minimally invasive services, cardiac services, a birthing center and level III NICU, a comprehensive women’s center, hepatobiliary surgical procedures, intraoperative radiation therapy, interventional procedures, and a wellness and weight loss center.
Wellington Regional Medical Center is located at 10101 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.wellingtonregional.com.
