Support for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition, which means treatment must continue indefinitely unless it is cured with surgery. At NYU Langone, our sleep specialists offer follow-up services to ensure that treatment relieves symptoms and consistently provides you with deep, restorative sleep.

CPAP Maintenance

Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is a highly effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea when used consistently and correctly. If you have trouble using the device or find the mask uncomfortable or feel claustrophobic while using it, our sleep experts can adjust it. They can also help you select a different type of face mask if the one you’re using doesn’t fit well or irritates your skin.

Some people find that a corticosteroid nasal spray helps relieve nasal obstruction and enhances the effectiveness of CPAP overnight. Your doctor determines whether a steroid spray is appropriate for you and tells you how often to use it.

Follow-Up Sleep Study

If doctors perform surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea, they recommend a follow-up sleep study three to six months after the procedure to ensure that the obstructions have been reduces or eliminated. This allows doctors to compare your sleep patterns before and after surgery and helps them measure its effectiveness.

Sometimes, surgery isn’t enough to relieve symptoms. Doctors may recommend using CPAP or a plastic mouth guard to further open the airway and enhance the results of surgery.