We treat most sleep apnea patients without surgery. These are the common methods.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
Literally over night, the CPAP machine can dramatically improve the way you feel. It is considered the "gold standard" treatment for sleep apnea for good reason: even if you’ve snored and struggled to sleep well for years, CPAP works. As the most common effective treatment for sleep apnea, CPAP uses a light-weight mask placed over the nose during sleep. A small fan blows air through the nasal passages to keep the upper airway from collapsing and allows for normal breathing and sleep. Air pressure is just enough to keep the airway open, eliminate snoring and improve the quality of your sleep in a matter of hours.
The Sleep Wellness Institute is one of few local sleep disorders centers that offers its own CPAP program. Skilled CPAP technicians work closely with patients from the time of initial set-up through extensive follow-up to ensure the best results for each individual. Also available is a service called the "PAP Nap," an on-site program that enables those who are concerned about claustrophobia or other problems to work directly with a skilled sleep technician on a one-to-one basis to ease fears and improve their CPAP treatment experience.
In addition, The Sleep Wellness Institute operates the only retail CPAP stores in Wisconsin owned by an accredited sleep center. The CPAP2GO stores are conveniently located throughout the Greater Milwaukee area, offering a vast supply of CPAP machines, masks and accessories. Evening and weekend hours are available.
Oral Appliances
Some sleep apnea patients benefit from using an appliance worn in the mouth during sleep. Oral appliances bring the jaw, tongue and soft palate forward, keeping the upper airway open and improving sleep quality.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral changes play an important role in treatment programs. In mild cases of sleep apnea, this may be all that is required.
If you have sleep apnea, you may only need to avoid alcohol, tobacco and sleeping pills—all of which can cause the airway to close during sleep. If you’re overweight, shedding pounds can reduce the amount and severity of sleep apnea.