Sleep apnea care
Better nights and brighter days are possible with Penn Medicine's sleep apnea care program. Throughout the region, you'll find our nationally recognized sleep centers and the treatments you need to breathe easier.
More options for a better night’s sleep
Sleep apnea, a disorder that causes your breathing to stop and start repeatedly while you sleep, affects every aspect of your life. Not getting a full night’s rest disrupts your mood, focus, and energy level during the day. It can even increase your risk of serious health conditions such as stroke or heart disease. But dealing with an endless cycle of fatigue doesn’t have to be a way of life.
At Penn Medicine, a multispecialty team of otorhinolaryngologists, sleep medicine physicians, pulmonologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and head and neck surgeons work together to build your individualized treatment plan. Our specialists treat all types of sleep apnea with non-surgical and surgical therapies. We also specialize in caring for people with complex treatment-resistant sleep apnea and those considered high-risk due to obesity or heart disease.
State-of-the-art sleep centers for diagnosis and treatment
Penn Medicine makes it easy to find high-quality care for your sleep apnea diagnosis. Our sleep centers are accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and designated by the National Institutes of Health as a specialized center for sleep research in recognition of our use of the latest diagnostic tools and therapies for sleep apnea.
We offer comprehensive diagnostic services, including outpatient visits, overnight sleep studies, and daytime nap studies. We also assess your lifestyle and sleep habits to determine if other factors are affecting your sleep quality.
The diagnostic process may include:
- Home sleep apnea test: Specialized equipment monitors your breathing while you sleep at home.
- Sleep diary: Your sleep routine, sleeping and waking patterns, and symptoms are logged for two weeks.
- In-lab sleep study (polysomnogram): Sensors on your face and scalp monitor brain activity, heart rate, eye movements, and other functions while you sleep.
- Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE): After you’re sedated, we insert an endoscope (thin tube with a light and camera) down your throat to locate upper airway blockages and determine the right surgical treatment for your needs.
CPAP Alternatives Clinic
One of the most common treatments for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. A CPAP machine keeps your airway open while you sleep. It’s an effective treatment for many people, but others have a hard time acclimating to CPAP. The mask can be uncomfortable or cause a dry nose or nasal congestion. Sometimes, the air pressure from the machine is too much for people to tolerate.
Fortunately, there are now CPAP alternatives for sleep apnea. Penn Medicine offers the latest evidence-based procedures for people whose sleep quality hasn’t improved with CPAP or oral appliances. Our CPAP Alternatives Clinic, led by physicians with extensive training in both sleep medicine and otorhinolaryngology, provides in-depth testing to pinpoint the cause of your sleep apnea.
The clinic offers a groundbreaking diagnostic tool called DISE-PAP, which combines drug-induced sleep endoscopy with a special type of positive airway pressure device. The test helps us see how your airway reacts to CPAP therapy and measures your air pressure tolerance. Depending on the results, we may recommend surgical sleep apnea treatment, such as nasal surgery, to improve the effectiveness of CPAP therapy. We also offer minimally invasive procedures such as transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
Inspire therapy at Doylestown
People diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP may qualify for the Inspire Sleep Apnea System, a mask-free treatment option available at Doylestown Health’s Sleep Center. A small implant is placed near your collarbone during a brief outpatient procedure that delivers mild stimulation to airway muscles to help regulate your breathing while you sleep. The system includes an app that allows you to track your sleep progress and share the data with your physician.
Nationally recognized expertise in sleep disorders
We are one of only three sleep centers in the U.S. designated by the National Institutes of Health as a specialized center for sleep research. This designation means that our sleep disorder specialists study the latest diagnostic tools and therapies for sleep apnea and bring them to our patients. We also offer sleep apnea procedures that require a high level of technical skill, such as palatal and jaw advancement surgery.
Individualized sleep apnea care at Penn Medicine
For many people, lifestyle adjustments can relieve sleep apnea symptoms. We may recommend losing weight, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, or exercising more.
If you need more targeted sleep apnea treatment, CPAP therapy may be right for you. At Penn Medicine, we use CPAP technology that allows us to track your sleep patterns and adjust your device based on the data we receive. In addition, our daily CPAP clinics offer equipment training, mask refitting, and other convenient services to make CPAP therapy more effective for you.
People who can’t tolerate CPAP or don’t see an improvement in their symptoms may be candidates for sleep apnea surgery. We offer a range of nose, mouth, and throat procedures that open your airways and make breathing easier.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.