If you have been living with moderate to severe sleep apnea you may have decided to get a surgical implant to correct the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). While the decision to move away from a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine as you sleep is a huge decision, there are many people who have made this choice and are wondering what they can and cannot do with a surgical implant. (1)
From swimming, to receiving an MRI, or just using a sauna many with sleep apnea implants are wondering what activities they can safely participate in. Find out what a sleep apnea implant is, and whether it is safe for you to continue your sauna use after surgery.
If you are living with any form of sleep apnea and have decided that you would prefer to treat it without surgery, skip ahead to this article on Treating Sleep Apnea With Regular Sauna Use.
For those who already have a sleep apnea implant or are considering receiving one, this article may help you along your way so that you can discover whether you can safely sauna with a sleep apnea implant.
What is a Sleep Apnea Implant
- “A hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an implantable device used to treat obstructive sleep apnea.
- The device detects each breath and sends an electrical impulse to stimulate the nerves that move the tongue and open the airway while the person sleeps.
- A hypoglossal nerve stimulation implant is an alternative for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP treatment.” (2)
Sleep apnea implants were created for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea, and not for those living with central sleep apnea (CSP). OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one brand of surgical sleep apnea implants called the ‘Inspire’. So, if you have a surgical implant for sleep apnea, you have the Inspire, which will make finding answers much easier.
Many individuals find sleeping with a machine by their side that is then attached to their head to help with their sleep apnea wildly uncomfortable, and cumbersome to wield around. It is namely for this reason that individuals will opt in for a surgical implant.
According to Dr. Kevin Motz, MD from Johns Hopkins Medicine, the surgical implant’s function can be summarized in his writing below.
“A hypoglossal nerve stimulation device sends a gentle electric pulse to a branch of the hypoglossal nerve. This causes the tongue to move forward, opening the airway with each breath.
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation aims to improve breathing, treat upper airway obstruction and reduce snoring, gasping and choking so the person can have a more restful sleep.” (2)
All implants (for any body part) from titanium knees/hip replacements, to pacemakers, to silicone breast implants come with many contraindications. These contraindications will certainly apply for sauna use, as the element of heat can alter material substances used to create the implant.
Most implants can withstand temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (close to that of the human body), for a prolonged period of time. However, there is not enough evidence for much of these substances on how well they will hold up under the very high heat of a sauna, or under the radiant light of an infrared sauna.
Dr. Motz, warns about receiving an MRI with a sleep apnea implant when he writes this.
“If you need an MRI, consult with the doctor who implanted your device. With some newer models of the hypoglossal nerve stimulation implants, an MRI can be performed with precautions. Be sure to let the MRI technologist know that you have the implant, and provide the technologist with all information requested.” (2)
With this cautionary warning it leaves open the question of how safe is it to sauna with a sleep apnea implant?
Can You Sauna With a Sleep Apnea Implant
- Material used to create the implant: Titanium, silicone, ceramics, etc.
- Medical clearance from your surgeon
- Source of heat in your sauna: Infrared vs. traditional
Any time you receive an implant of any kind into your body for a more permanent time frame, it is critical to find out what activities you can participate in safely. A surgical sleep apnea implant is no different, especially when it concerns sauna use.
Different substances respond to heat very differently and the variance is great. For example, titanium (which is used in many joint implants) can withstand heat up to at least 600 degrees Celsius, which means that any sauna you take will be well below that heat parameter. (3) Silicone does not withstand high heat nearly as well with a maximum temperature of 230 degrees Celsius. While this is much hotter than most saunas, it is unknown how well silicone will stand up against ongoing high heat from saunas.
It is important to find out what material was used in your implant before deciding to begin or continue a regular sauna protocol with a sleep apnea device.
Medical clearance from your surgeon will ultimately determine whether you can use a sauna with a sleep apnea implant. For example, pacemakers have been cleared by most surgeons for sauna use. As there are several different types of pacemakers, it is still best to consult with your personal surgeon to find out if it is safe to use a sauna with a pacemaker.
Finally, the heat source in your sauna will interact with different materials in different ways. Traditional saunas rely on ambient heat, or convection heat to create a hot atmospheric temperature with an electric stove (in most cases), whereas infrared saunas are relying on the radiant heat of infrared light.
While traditional saunas may go up to higher external temperatures they do not heat the body up as much as a far infrared saunas by nature of the convection heat. A traditional sauna needs to be heated to at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit to increase internal body temperature at the same rate as an infrared sauna heated to only 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Traditional saunas do not penetrate deeply into the soft tissues of the body, and therefore may be a safer choice for those with surgical implants in some cases.
Infrared saunas rely on the invisible light frequency of infrared light. While infrared light is invisible to the human eye, it is experienced as heat and can penetrate several centimeters into the body (around 4 centimeters or 1.5 inches). This radiant style of heat may have a stronger impact on surgical implants than the convection heat of a traditional sauna.
Finally, given the contraindications surrounding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and sleep apnea implants as mentioned above, it is definitely very important that you find out if it is safe to use a sauna directly from your surgeon.
Sleep Apnea Implants & Sauna Use Require a Direct Clearance From Your Surgeon
If you are simply doing some preliminary research into sleep apnea implants and already know that you would like to continue to use your sauna protocol regularly, then you should consider the aforementioned information into your final decision. Anytime you put something into your body on a more permanent basis it is important to consider many factors.
If you already have a sleep apnea implant contact your surgeon before using a sauna. For more general information either before or after receiving your implant call Johns Hopkins Medicine sleep apnea implant information line directly:
Johns Hopkins Sleep Apnea Information
855-695-4872 (Outside of Maryland)
+1-410-502-7683 (International)
As is the case with all implants, it is crucial to find out the material that is used and how hot this material can get before transforming itself. Receive clear and direct clearance from your surgeon before engaging in any activities that are questionable (including sauna use), and finally deciding whether it is safer to use an infrared sauna or a traditional sauna based on your implant.
As always sauna safely with awareness, and always consult your medical professional before beginning a sauna protocol.
Sources Cited:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/obstructive-sleep-apnea/hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation
- https://www.neonickel.com/neonickel-news/choosing-the-right-alloys-for-high-temperature-service
- https://www.analog.com/en/resources/technical-articles/introduction-to-magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri.html