Maryland’s Sleep Apnea Specialists

Sleep problems deserve medical expertise. At the Center for Sleep & Wake Disorders, our board-certified sleep medicine physicians comprehensively diagnose your sleep issues using the latest tools in sleep science and technology. We have clinics in both Chevy Chase, MD and Bowie, MD.

Our in-lab sleep studies use medically-grade monitoring equipment and trained sleep technologists to observe and record every aspect of your sleep. This allows us to identify the exact cause of your symptoms and design a treatment plan backed by evidence, not guesswork.

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Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles of the throat relax during sleep, causing the airway to collapse partially or completely. This interrupts breathing repeatedly throughout the night — sometimes hundreds of times — dropping oxygen levels and fragmenting sleep even when you don’t fully wake up.

The most recognized symptom is loud snoring, but sleep apnea often presents without it, or with symptoms patients don’t connect to a sleep disorder at all:

Waking up unrefreshed after a full night’s sleep
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Difficulty staying awake
Morning headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Memory problems
Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
Irritability
Mood changes
Pauses in breathing during sleep
Frequent nighttime urination

If you experience several of these symptoms consistently, a sleep apnea evaluation is warranted. Many patients who come to us believing they have insomnia are ultimately diagnosed with OSA, a treatable condition that responds well to proper care.

Sleep Apnea Testing in Maryland

A definitive diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea requires a sleep study. Our sleep apnea physicians will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and risk factors before recommending the most appropriate diagnostic path.

In-Lab Sleep Study (Polysomnogram)

An in-lab polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Conducted overnight at our AASM-accredited sleep labs in Chevy Chase or Bowie, a full sleep study captures a comprehensive picture of what happens during your sleep — including brain activity, eye movements, muscle tone, breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rhythm, and leg movements.

Home Sleep Study (Home Sleep Apnea Test)

A home sleep apnea test (HSAT) is a portable monitoring device you wear overnight in your own bed. It measures airflow, breathing effort, oxygen levels, and heart rate to calculate the frequency and severity of breathing disruptions during sleep. It can detect sleep apnea, though not other sleep conditions. Unfortunately it is not as reliable as a lab sleep study and a negative test result is generally considered inconclusive.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Obstructive sleep apnea is highly treatable. The right approach depends on severity, anatomy, and patient preference — and often involves more than one strategy. Our sleep physicians work through the options with you to build a plan that is effective and sustainable.

CPAP / PAP therapy — The most effective first-line treatment for most patients. A machine delivers pressurized air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleep. Variants include BiPAP and APAP for patients who cannot tolerate standard CPAP. We manage the full process from titration through ongoing follow-up.
Oral appliance therapy — A custom-fitted device worn during sleep that repositions the jaw and tongue to reduce airway collapse. An option for mild-to-moderate OSA in patients who cannot tolerate PAP. Fitted by qualified dental providers; a physician sleep study is required first. We coordinate referrals.
Inspire therapy (upper airway stimulation) — An FDA-approved implantable device for moderate-to-severe OSA patients who have tried and failed CPAP. Stimulates the nerve controlling tongue movement in sync with breathing, keeping the airway open without a mask.
Upper airway surgery — Procedures such as UPPP, tonsillectomy, or maxillomandibular advancement can reduce OSA severity in selected patients. Generally not a first-line treatment; outcomes vary by anatomy and procedure. Considered when other options have failed or are not appropriate.
Lifestyle modification — Weight loss, positional therapy, and reducing alcohol before bed can meaningfully reduce severity, particularly in milder or positional OSA. Rarely sufficient alone for moderate-to-severe OSA but an important part of comprehensive care.

Why Choose the Center for Sleep & Wake Disorders?

Board-certified sleep apnea physicians. Our physicians are board-certified in sleep medicine and focused exclusively on sleep disorders. Sleep is not a side practice — it is the entire practice.
AASM-accredited sleep labs. Both our Chevy Chase and Bowie sleep labs are accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the standard of quality in sleep medicine.
Operating since 1995. The Center for Sleep & Wake Disorders has been serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area for over 30 years. We have diagnosed and treated thousands of patients with obstructive sleep apnea and related conditions.
Full-spectrum care. From initial evaluation through diagnostic testing, treatment initiation, and long-term follow-up, we manage the complete arc of sleep apnea care — not just the study.

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