PAP stands for Positive Airway Pressure. PAP machines are used to treat Sleep Disordered Breathing, such as OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. OSA is when your airway partially or fully closes due to being relaxed or due to fatty tissue in the neck, and your airflow is restricted or stops. CPAP is used to treat OSA. It provides Continues Positive Airway Pressure, meaning that it blows air into your nose via a mask (or in your nose and mouth if using a full face mask), and this pressure keeps your airway open while you sleep, and prevents sleep apnea. There are a few machines that provide positive airway pressure such as BiPAP (BiLevel PAP) and ASV (Auto Servo Ventillation) that treat other problems like sleep hypoventillation and CSA, central sleep apnea. Your sleep specialist would order the one approprate for your sleep disorder.

OmniSleep will refer patients needing CPAP or BiPAP equipment to reputable durable medical equipment providers that will supply the equipment and supplies.

Most patients adjust well to PAP therapy. Our providers work very hard to make ongoing treatment as comfortable as possible. However, some patients opt to discontinue therapy becuase they experience mask discomfort or difficulty with the volume of airflow in the mask. Some patients feel claustrophobic and have difficulty wearing a mask. If you can't tolerate PAP, we'd schedule an appointment with your sleep specialist to discuss other treatment options, such as Inspire, an electro-stimulation device to treat apnea, or a dental mouthpiece, and weight loss.