Described is a method and system providing therapeutic positive airway pressure to a particular area of patients airways. The system may include a flow generator and a processing arrangement. The flow generator supplies an airflow to an airway of the patient. The processing arrangement is connected to the flow generator to control a supply pressure at which the airflow is generated by the flow generator. The processing arrangement continuously adjusts the supply pressure to maintain a pressure in a predetermined portion of the patients airway substantially constant. The predetermined portion of the patients airway includes a collapsible portion of an upper airway of the patient. The processing arrangement also controls the supply pressure to maintain the pressure in the collapsible portion of the patients airway at a value at least as great as a tissue pressure below which the collapsible portion collapses.
