Sleep Apnea Treatment
Our goal is to help our patients breathe better
We provide the most advanced sleep therapy equipment and monitoring in Southeastern Wisconsin. Because untreated Sleep Apnea has many detrimental, physical, psychological, and social consequences, we strive to help each patient achieve compliance with therapy. By providing in-depth education and follow-ups, we help support you when you need it most.
Sleep Apnea, unfortunately, is not cured without attention. After a positive diagnosis, many of our patients with OSA choose to begin Positive Airway Pressure Therapy (PAP) as an alternative to going to the sleep lab, SAS provides home titrating devices (AutoPAP) that determine the correct pressure to maintain an open airway throughout the night.
During setup, a clinician will spend 60-90 minutes explaining PAP therapy, finding the right mask, and answering any questions about therapy. PAP therapy gently pushes air from the PAP unit through a mask over your nose (and sometimes mouth depending on the type of mask). The PAP must be worn every night in order to achieve maximum benefit. PAP therapy is the safest non-invasive and effective treatment for sleep apnea.
CPAP creates a continuous “air splint” that keeps your airway open while you are relaxed and sleeping. Air is gently pushed from the CPAP unit through a mask over your nose (and sometimes mouth depending on the type of mask). The CPAP must be worn every night in order to achieve maximum benefit.
Because it is medical equipment, you must have a prescription from your doctor to be treated with CPAP. Typically, your prescription (the pressure you need to keep your airway open) is determined during your sleep study. In addition to CPAP, there are two other devices used in a similar fashion to treat Sleep Apnea: AutoPAP and BiPAP.
By measuring the amount of resistance in the patient's breathing, AutoPAP automatically adjusts to the minimum amount of pressure required to keep your airway open. For example, when you are in light sleep, you may only need +6 cwp (centimeters of water pressure) but once you reach a deep sleep you may need +10 cwp to keep your airways open. Also, sleeping on your back, instead of your side, can also cause a need for a higher pressure. An AutoPap will detect this in your breathing and change accordingly. Bi-PAP, has two different pressures, one stronger pressure for when the patient inhales, and one weaker pressure for when the patient exhales. This helps people that may have trouble breathing against the pressure of regular CPAP, or need assistance in taking larger breaths.
Your doctor will determine which type of therapy is best for you.
Some people feel the effects of treatment after the first night or two of treatment. However, you must remember that it took years of disruptive sleep to develop your sleep debt, and it will take time to replenish. Generally, treatment can make you feel like a new person—refreshed and revitalized.
Ongoing Care
Through our follow up program, we have designed a comprehensive patient support system to ensure adherence to treatment which includes:
- Educational and equipment support
- Wireless compliance monitoring - SAS will download and monitor compliance, clinical efficacy, and positive health outcomes through a wireless monitoring system
- New product notifications
- Supply replacement
What if PAP doesn't work?
In some instances, patients are not able to tolerate PAP therapy. Oxygen One has resources available for other treatment options. Other options may include:
- An oral appliance; sometimes known as a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) positions the jaw to maximize airway space and limit apneas. SAS can provide a referral to a dentist specializing in sleep medicine.
- ProVent; a new proprietary MicroValve design, powered by our own breathing, creates backpressure when you exhale to keep your airway open. The device is self-applied over your nostrils with a hypoallergenic adhesive. Provent Therapy is small and disposable, making it discreet and very convenient. If you are currently not treating your OSA and are looking for an alternative to PAP, Proven Therapy could be your ideal obstructive sleep apnea solution.
If left untreated, sleep apnea is known to cause several significant health issues. Treatment is essential for your health and wellbeing.