From Exhaustion to Restful Nights

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga resident Nathan Uglow has battled sleep issues since his teenage years. Friends and family told him he snored loudly, and he often felt exhausted, falling asleep at stoplights or whenever he sat down.

In his 20s, Uglow was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. He tried several treatments, including a CPAP machine, oral appliances, and even surgery to remove tissue from his throat. Nothing worked.

At 35, Uglow joined the Navy as a medic, and the sleep problems only got worse. He was barely sleeping a couple of hours a night and struggled through basic training.

Desperate for a solution, he returned to his doctor and was introduced to Inspire Sleep… a small device implanted in the chest that keeps the airway open while sleeping.

Uglow says he felt the difference the very first night. For the first time in years, he was getting a full night’s sleep. No more grogginess, no more nodding off during the day.

Now retired from the military, Uglow works as a medic on a ship in the Gulf of Mexico. His commute includes a nine-hour drive to Louisiana and a flight to his ship. Travel he says wouldn’t be possible if he were still sleep-deprived.

May is Better Sleep Month, a reminder of how critical rest is to our health, and how the right treatment can be life changing.