Dr. Fung has many years of experience in treating snoring and sleep apnea.  With our experience and approach to patient care, our patients have a higher success rate with treatment.

We have expertise in using many different oral appliances, so we can customize the appropriate appliance for each patient. We listen carefully and spend the necessary time with you to develop an appropriate plan for your care.

We work closely with all of the sleep disorders centers and sleep medicine physicians in the central valley.

Snoring

Snoring is a problem that effects 40% of adults by the age of 40. it is conservatively estimated that 45 million people in the united states snore every night. snoring can cause disrupted sleep for both snorers and their sleeping partners and it can lead to health problems.

Snoring is the harsh sound that occurs when the tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth vibrates against the back of the throat. During sleep, those tissues, the tongue and the muscles that line the airway all relax. When this occurs, the airway narrows. as air passes through the narrower airway, the tissues vibrate against each other and create the snoring sound that can grow louder during sleep. Snoring may also be an indication of a bigger health problem-sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the soft tissues at the back of the throat completely close off the airway so that air cannot flow into the lungs. This airway blockage can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the brain and body. When that happens, the brain alerts the muscles in the airway to tighten up and unblock the air passage. This leads to a process of blocking and unblocking of the airway that causes significant disruption of sleep.

The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are:

  • Loud Snoring
  • Restless Sleep
  • Periodic Stoppages of Breathing
  • Irritability or Personality Change
  • Significant Daytime Sleepiness
  • Difficulty Concentrating and Poor Memory

Sleep apnea is a health problem that can be associated with high blood pressure, heart problems and stroke. It is important for patients to see a physician or a sleep disorder specialist if they are experiencing snoring and daytime sleepiness.

Note:  This information is intended to help individuals manage their snoring and/or sleep apnea.  It is not to be used as a guide for self-diagnosis or to recommend a particular treatment.  Dr. Fung recommends consulting a physician for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

 

Five Negative Effects of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can lead to increased risk of:

  1. Relationship and marital discord. loud snoring noises can disrupt the sleep of not only the snorer but also the snorer's bed partner and others in the household. this can be a source of great frustration and anger in their relationship.
  2. Heart attack, stroke, or even death. research confirms that people with sleep apnea have a higher incidence of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. it is estimated that 38,000 people in the united states die each year from the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.
  3. Industrial and traffic accidents caused by daytime sleepiness and fatigue. people with obstructive sleep apnea have a three times greater risk of having an automobile accident than the general population and a seven times greater risk of multiple accidents. the snorer's bed partner also has an increased risk of traffic accidents because of fatigue from disrupted sleep.
  4. Lost productivity at home and work from daytime sleepiness due to lack of restful sleep.
  5. Depression as a result of lost productivity, relationship discord, accidents, and health problems.