US regulators have approved a first-of-its-kind implant that can help ward off moderate to severe sleep apnea, a chronic disorder which affects up to 18 million Americans. Sleep apnea is a condition in which the breathing passage collapses or becomes blocked during sleep -- complications can include heart disease and increased risks of accidents and death. The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy, which has been given the green light by the US Food and Drug Administration, is designed for patients unable to benefit from available therapies. Research published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that it led to a 68 percent reduction in apnea events and significant improvements in daytime function.
via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News http://ift.tt/Rb9JTT
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