Personalized plans
We believe your sleep care should be as unique as you are. We start by listening to your needs, symptoms and goals. The best possible plan doesn't come off the shelf, it comes from understanding you as an individual.
Sleep Apnea
The condition that consistently denies you a good night's sleep
Our approach to sleep apnea care
Sleep apnea presents itself in many different ways. We take a personalized approach to your care by learning about your concerns, symptoms and goals.
After we know your full story, we craft a custom plan that treats your specific symptoms and meets your unique needs.
Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that ranges from mild to severe. It can significantly affect your overall health.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- unrefreshing sleep
- morning headaches
- loud snoring
- gasping or choking during sleep
- restlessness
- irritability
- difficulty concentrating
- memory loss
When to seek care for sleep apnea
Not everyone with sleep apnea will experience the same symptoms or level of severity. But if left untreated, it can lead to several health problems, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
If you think you have sleep apnea, ask your doctor about seeking an official diagnosis.
Our steps to a diagnosis
Early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea can significantly improve your quality of life and reduce your risk of serious health problems. Here's what to expect during the diagnosis process:
- Your doctor will perform a physical check of your airways and overall health.
- If your doctor suspects sleep apnea, you'll have a sleep study, which records your breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels.
- Additional tests, may be necessary such as an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan of your throat and nose.
Our treatment options
Treating sleep apnea isn't one-size-fits all. We offer multiple, proven solutions. We consider your overall health, lifestyle and symptoms before making recommendations.
- CPAP therapy: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask delivers pressurized air to your throat, which helps you breathe easier.
- Inspire® therapy: An emerging alternative to CPAP therapy. Inspire therapy is a small, implanted device that supports normal breathing and uninterrupted sleep. Studies show it can reduce sleep apnea by up to 79 percent.
- Dental appliance: Our board-certified dentists can create a custom mouthpiece to alleviate sleep apnea, which is an effective option for some.
- Surgery: Surgery may be an option if you have severe sleep apnea. This involves removing tissue from the back of your throat or palate to enlarge your airway.
- Weight loss: Reducing the amount of fat around your neck can improve sleep apnea symptoms by helping to open your airway.
- Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise and avoiding smoking, alcohol and caffeine before bed can also improve sleep apnea symptoms.
Meet our experts
Board-certified doctors with specialized training in sleep disorders, supported by an accommodating team — all here for a smoother bedtime.
Why choose WellSpan for sleep apnea care?
There's more to sleep apnea care than treatment itself. Convenient locations and a connection with a trusted doctor are vital. We bring it all together to put your sleep troubles to bed.
At-home sleep tests
Get easy, accurate sleep apnea results without lifting a finger. We ship a testing device directly to your house and have a round-the-clock support team ready to help.
Inspire therapy specialists
We pioneered Inspire therapy for our region. We've implanted hundreds of Inspire devices, helping our community get sound sleep without the discomfort of a CPAP machine. All it takes is a simple out-patient procedure.
We're close by
Our sleep centers span Adams, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties for easy access to expert sleep care.