Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is often used as a treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A small machine blows filtered, humidified air through a small clear plastic mask that covers the patient's nose. This gently pressurized air serves as an internal pneumatic splint to hold the airway open during sleep, making breathing easier. CPCP has a very high success rate for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
CPAP is the gold standard for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. In OSA, the shape of a person's airway combined with the natural tendency for muscles to relax during sleep reduces the size of the upper airway, interfering with breathing. This condition can cause excessive sleepiness during the day, and can lead to serious long-term health consequences. Patients are usually unaware of breathing difficulties during sleep.
A Prescription Is Required for CPAP Therapy
CPAP therapy is a prescription order from your doctor, like a prescription for medication. If your doctor orders CPAP therapy for you, your equipment will be ordered either by one of our physicians or by your doctor. A respiratory therapist from a durable medical equipment provider will deliver your CPAP equipment to you and instruct you in proper use.
CPAP Titration Test
Before a doctor can prescribe CPAP therapy for you, you must have a CPAP titration test. This test is performed in a sleep lab during an overnight sleep study using noninvasive electrodes and sensors applied to the your skin. You also wear a CPAP mask and this allows the sleep team to calibrate your CPAP equipment so that it will work best for you. The test is devoted to finding the gentlest pressure that effectively improves breathing.
Successful Use of CPAP
The key to successful treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with CPAP is patient compliance. Most patients adapt quite successfully to CPAP - many immediately, some after a few nights, and a few after several weeks. The key to success is to use your CPAP consistently all night every night - especially for your first few weeks. This consistency shortens and eases your process of acclimating to CPAP. Consistency makes it easier for you to get used to CPAP - both physically and mentally. Because CPAP compliance is so important, we want to help you integrate nightly use of CPAP into your daily life. The Sleep Center and BJC Home Care offer ongoing help with your therapy (even if you use a different home care provider).
Free CPAP Help Clinics
We want you to be successful with CPAP. There is a team of professionals available to support your efforts - our Sleep Disorders Center, your sleep doctor, and the medical equipment provider. We all want to help.
Free CPAP Help Clinics are available for all our patients. Please call 314.953.2125 to make an appointment and for more information. Please take advantage of this free service to help you improve your health. It is helpful to bring your equipment with you - certainly at least your mask.
Office Locations at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Sleep Medicine Center, BJC Medical Group Physicians
969 N. Mason Road, Suite 250
Medical Office Building 969
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Sleep and Electroencephalogram (EEG) Lab, BJC HealthCare
969 N. Mason Road, Suite 260
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital is conveniently located just one mile west of I-270 in Creve Coeur, Missouri — a west county suburb of St. Louis.
Get directions and maps.
Contact Us
Physician appointment changes or cancellations should be submitted through MyChart, or by calling your physician office directly.
For immediate assistance or to schedule an appointment with one of our sleep specialists, please call 314.996.8680.
Find additional phone numbers here.