Understanding the connection between sleep apnoea and serious health complications—including hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and atrial fibrillation—is essential for protecting your long-term health. Our Glen Iris dental practice plays an important role in identifying potential sleep apnoea and facilitating appropriate treatment that may save your life.

What Is Sleep Apnoea?

Understanding the Condition

Sleep apnoea (also spelled sleep apnea) is a disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These breathing interruptions can occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night, each lasting from a few seconds to over a minute.

Types of Sleep Apnoea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA):

• Most common type (approximately 84% of cases)
• Caused by physical blockage of the airway
• Throat muscles relax excessively during sleep
• Tongue and soft tissues collapse backward
• Airway becomes partially or completely blocked
• Breathing stops until brain triggers partial awakening

Central Sleep Apnoea:

• Brain fails to send proper signals to breathing muscles
• Respiratory control center malfunction
• Less common (approximately 15% of cases)
• Often associated with heart failure, stroke, or neurological conditions

Complex/Mixed Sleep Apnoea:

• Combination of obstructive and central components
• May start as OSA and develop central features
• Requires specialized treatment approach

The Apnoea Cycle

What Happens During an Apnoeic Event:

1. Airway Collapses: Soft tissues block breathing passage
2. Oxygen Levels Drop: Blood oxygen saturation decreases (hypoxemia)
3. Carbon Dioxide Builds Up: Toxic waste product accumulates (hypercapnia)
4. Brain Detects Crisis: Emergency arousal response triggered
5. Partial Awakening: Just enough to restore muscle tone
6. Airway Opens: Breathing resumes, often with loud gasp or snort
7. Sleep Resumes: Patient returns to sleep, usually unaware
8. Cycle Repeats: Can occur 5-100+ times per hour

The Devastating Pattern: This cycle prevents deep, restorative sleep while simultaneously subjecting the cardiovascular system to repeated stress throughout the night, every night.

Severity Classification

Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI): Measures frequency of breathing interruptions per hour of sleep:

• Normal: Fewer than 5 events per hour
• Mild OSA: 5-15 events per hour
• Moderate OSA: 15-30 events per hour
• Severe OSA: 30+ events per hour (some patients experience 100+ events)

Clinical Significance: Even mild sleep apnoea carries health risks, with severity directly correlating to cardiovascular complications.

The Cardiovascular Dangers of Sleep Apnoea

How Sleep Apnoea Damages Your Heart and Blood Vessels

Multiple Destructive Mechanisms:

Sleep apnoea doesn’t cause cardiovascular disease through a single pathway—it attacks your heart and blood vessels through multiple simultaneous mechanisms, creating a perfect storm of cardiovascular stress.

1. Intermittent Hypoxia (Oxygen Deprivation):

• Blood oxygen drops repeatedly throughout night
• Tissues and organs experience cyclical oxygen starvation
• Particularly damaging to heart muscle and brain
• Triggers oxidative stress and inflammation
• Damages blood vessel linings (endothelium)

2. Sympathetic Nervous System Activation:

• Each apnoea triggers “fight or flight” response
• Adrenaline and other stress hormones surge repeatedly
• Heart rate and blood pressure spike
• Normal nighttime cardiovascular rest period eliminated
• Chronic sympathetic overdrive develops

3. Intrathoracic Pressure Changes:

• Struggling to breathe against blocked airway creates extreme negative pressure in chest
• Stress on heart chambers and blood vessel walls
• Affects blood return to heart
• Strains cardiovascular structures

4. Inflammation:

• Chronic low-grade systemic inflammation develops
• Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-alpha) elevated
• Accelerates atherosclerosis (arterial plaque formation)
• Damages tissues throughout body

5. Endothelial Dysfunction:

• Lining of blood vessels becomes damaged
• Reduced production of nitric oxide (vessel relaxation compound)
• Impaired ability to regulate blood pressure
• Increased clotting tendency
• Foundation for atherosclerosis

6. Metabolic Disruption:

• Insulin resistance develops
• Glucose metabolism impaired
• Lipid profiles worsen
• Weight gain tendency (fatigue reduces activity, hormones affect appetite)
• All contribute to cardiovascular disease

Sleep Apnoea and Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

The Strong Connection

More Hypertension:

Sleep apnoea is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension (high blood pressure due to identifiable medical cause).

The Statistics:

• 50-60% of sleep apnoea patients have hypertension
• 30-40% of hypertensive patients have sleep apnoea
• Sleep apnoea increases hypertension risk by 2-3 times
• More severe apnoea correlates with higher blood pressure

Why Sleep Apnoea Causes High Blood Pressure

The Mechanisms:

Sympathetic Activation:

• Repeated adrenaline surges during apnoeas
• Blood vessels constrict (tighten)
• Heart rate increases
• Blood pressure spikes repeatedly throughout night
• Chronic elevation develops over time

Loss of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dip:

• Normal pattern: Blood pressure drops 10-20% during sleep (“dipping”)
• Sleep apnoea eliminates this protective nightly rest
• Blood pressure remains elevated or even increases at night (“non-dipping”)
• 24-hour hypertension develops
• Increased cardiovascular disease risk

Endothelial Dysfunction:

• Damaged blood vessel lining can’t regulate pressure properly
• Reduced nitric oxide production (natural blood vessel relaxer)
• Vessels remain constricted
• Chronic hypertension results

Fluid Retention:

• Hormonal changes from sleep apnoea affect kidney function
• Sodium and water retention increases
• Blood volume expands
• Blood pressure rises

Oxidative Stress:

• Oxygen fluctuations create harmful free radicals
• Damage to blood vessel walls
• Contributes to sustained hypertension

The Resistant Hypertension Connection

Difficult-to-Control Blood Pressure:

Sleep apnoea is the leading cause of resistant hypertension—high blood pressure that doesn’t respond adequately to multiple medications.

Clinical Significance:

• If blood pressure remains high despite 3+ medications, screen for sleep apnoea
• Treating sleep apnoea often dramatically improves blood pressure control
• May reduce or eliminate need for some medications
• Critical finding for Glen Iris patients struggling with hypertension

Treatment Benefits for Blood Pressure

CPAP Therapy Effects: Studies show that treating sleep apnoea with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure):

• Reduces systolic blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg on average
• Greater reduction in those with severe apnoea or resistant hypertension
• Improvement often seen within weeks
• Particularly effective for nighttime blood pressure
• May allow reduction in antihypertensive medications

Sleep Apnoea and Stroke Risk

The Alarming Statistics

More Stroke:

Sleep apnoea dramatically increases stroke risk through multiple mechanisms.

The Research:

• 2-4 times higher stroke risk in sleep apnoea patients
• Risk increases with severity of apnoea
• Sleep apnoea found in 60-70% of stroke patients
• Often undiagnosed before stroke occurs
• Both ischemic (blocked artery) and hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke risk increased

For Glen Iris Residents: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. Understanding this modifiable risk factor is crucial.

How Sleep Apnoea Causes Strokes

Multiple Pathways to Brain Damage:

1. Hypertension:

• As discussed above, sleep apnoea causes high blood pressure
• Hypertension is the #1 modifiable stroke risk factor
• Damages blood vessels in brain
• Increases risk of both clot-based and bleeding strokes

2. Atherosclerosis (Arterial Plaque):

• Inflammation and endothelial damage accelerate plaque formation
• Plaques narrow arteries supplying brain (carotid, cerebral)
• Plaques can rupture, causing immediate blockage
• Reduced blood flow to brain tissue

3. Atrial Fibrillation (discussed in detail below):

• Sleep apnoea causes abnormal heart rhythm
• AFib significantly increases stroke risk (5-fold)
• Clots form in heart, travel to brain
• Particularly dangerous combination

4. Blood Clotting Abnormalities:

• Sleep apnoea increases blood clotting tendency
• Platelets become more “sticky”
• Clotting factors elevated
• Higher risk of clot formation blocking brain arteries

5. Impaired Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation:

• Brain loses ability to maintain stable blood flow
• Oxygen fluctuations damage autoregulation mechanisms
• Brain becomes vulnerable to pressure changes
• Increases stroke susceptibility

6. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation:

• Direct damage to brain blood vessels
• Weakening of vessel walls
• Increased hemorrhagic stroke risk
• Accelerated brain aging

The Bidirectional Relationship

Sleep Apnoea → Stroke: As described, sleep apnoea significantly increases stroke risk.

Stroke → Sleep Apnoea: Stroke can also cause or worsen sleep apnoea:

• Brain damage affecting respiratory control centers
• Impaired muscle control in throat
• Central sleep apnoea development
• Worsening obstructive sleep apnoea

The Vicious Cycle: This bidirectional relationship means:

• Untreated sleep apnoea increases stroke risk
• Stroke worsens sleep apnoea
• Worsened sleep apnoea increases recurrent stroke risk
• Critical to screen stroke patients for sleep apnoea
• Essential to treat both conditions

Post-Stroke Recovery and Sleep Apnoea

Impact on Rehabilitation: Sleep apnoea in stroke survivors:

• Impairs cognitive recovery
• Worsens physical rehabilitation outcomes
• Increases depression and fatigue
• Reduces independence
• Increases mortality risk

Treatment Improves Outcomes: Treating sleep apnoea after stroke:

• Enhances neurological recovery
• Improves rehabilitation progress
• Reduces recurrent stroke risk
• Supports better long-term outcomes

Sleep Apnoea and Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

The Heart Attack Connection

More Heart Attack:

Sleep apnoea substantially increases the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) through similar mechanisms affecting stroke risk.

The Statistics:

• 2-3 times higher risk of heart attack in sleep apnoea patients
• Risk correlates with severity (worse apnoea = higher risk)
• Sleep apnoea found in 30-50% of heart attack survivors
• Increases risk of recurrent heart attack after first event
• Worsens prognosis and recovery after heart attack

Why Sleep Apnoea Causes Heart Attacks

Coronary Artery Disease Acceleration:

1. Atherosclerosis Progression:

• Inflammation damages coronary artery walls
• Endothelial dysfunction impairs vessel health
• Plaque formation accelerated
• Arteries supplying heart muscle narrow
• Reduced blood flow to heart

2. Plaque Instability:

• Sleep apnoea makes plaques more likely to rupture
• Inflammation destabilizes plaque structure
• Rupture triggers immediate clot formation
• Clot blocks artery completely
• Heart attack occurs

3. Increased Oxygen Demand with Reduced Supply:

• Sympathetic activation increases heart rate and blood pressure
• Heart requires more oxygen during these surges
• Narrowed coronary arteries can’t deliver adequate oxygen
• Mismatch between supply and demand
• Heart muscle becomes ischemic (oxygen-starved)

4. Nocturnal Heart Attacks:

• Heart attacks more common in early morning hours in sleep apnoea patients
• Correlates with REM sleep (when apnoeas often worst)
• Blood pressure and heart rate surges during apnoeas
• Increased thrombosis (clotting) at night
• Vulnerability during sleep period

5. Direct Myocardial Damage:

• Repeated oxygen deprivation damages heart muscle cells
• Oxidative stress creates harmful compounds
• Progressive weakening of heart muscle
• Reduced cardiac function over time

Cardiac Consequences Beyond Heart Attack

Heart Failure:

• Sleep apnoea increases heart failure risk
• Worsens existing heart failure
• Bidirectional relationship (heart failure worsens sleep apnoea)
• Treatment improves heart function

Sudden Cardiac Death:

• Increased risk during sleep
• Abnormal heart rhythms during apnoeas
• Particularly dangerous in those with existing heart disease

Coronary Artery Spasm:

• Sleep apnoea can trigger spasm of coronary arteries
• Further reduces blood flow to heart
• Can cause heart attack even without complete blockage

Sleep Apnoea and Atrial Fibrillation

The Rhythm Disorder Connection

More Atrial Fibrillation:

Atrial fibrillation (AFib)—the most common abnormal heart rhythm—has particularly strong links to sleep apnoea.

The Statistics:

• 50% of sleep apnoea patients develop atrial fibrillation
• Sleep apnoea found in 50-80% of AFib patients
• 4-fold increased risk of developing AFib with sleep apnoea
• Severity of sleep apnoea correlates with AFib occurrence
• Untreated sleep apnoea predicts AFib recurrence after treatment

What Is Atrial Fibrillation?

Understanding the Condition:

Normal Heart Rhythm:

• Electrical signals originate in sinoatrial (SA) node
• Atria (upper chambers) contract in coordinated fashion
• Blood pumps efficiently into ventricles (lower chambers)
• Ventricles then pump blood to body and lungs

Atrial Fibrillation:

• Chaotic electrical signals throughout atria
• Atria quiver rather than contract effectively
• Irregular, often rapid heart rate
• Inefficient blood flow
• Blood pools in atria, forming clots
• Reduced cardiac output

Symptoms:

• Palpitations (awareness of irregular heartbeat)
• Fatigue and weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest discomfort
• Some patients have no symptoms (“silent AFib”)

Why AFib Matters:

• 5-fold increased stroke risk (clots from heart travel to brain)
• Heart failure development or worsening
• Reduced quality of life
• Increased mortality
• Requires anticoagulation (blood thinners)

How Sleep Apnoea Causes Atrial Fibrillation

Multiple Mechanisms:

1. Structural Remodeling:

• Repeated pressure changes stretch atria
• Atrial enlargement occurs over time
• Stretched tissue develops abnormal electrical properties
• Creates substrate for AFib development

2. Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance:

• Excessive sympathetic activation (adrenaline surges)
• Parasympathetic activation (during recovery)
• Rapid swings between states
• Triggers abnormal electrical firing in atria

3. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation:

• Damages atrial tissue
• Creates areas of electrical instability
• Promotes fibrosis (scarring) in atria
• Establishes conditions for AFib

4. Electrolyte Imbalances:

• Sleep apnoea affects potassium, magnesium levels
• Electrolyte disturbances affect heart rhythm
• Increases AFib susceptibility

5. Atrial Ischemia:

• Reduced oxygen delivery to atrial tissue
• Damaged tissue conducts electricity abnormally
• Triggers or sustains AFib

The Treatment Connection

CPAP Therapy and AFib:

Prevention:

• Treating sleep apnoea reduces AFib development risk
• May prevent AFib in high-risk patients
• Particularly important for those with other risk factors

AFib Treatment Success: Sleep apnoea treatment crucial for AFib management:

Cardioversion (Restoring Normal Rhythm):

• Success rates higher when sleep apnoea treated
• Untreated sleep apnoea: AFib recurs in 80%+ of patients
• Treated sleep apnoea: AFib recurs in approximately 40% of patients
• Dramatic difference in outcomes

Ablation (Destroying Abnormal Electrical Pathways):

• Untreated sleep apnoea significantly reduces ablation success
• Treatment improves long-term maintenance of normal rhythm
• Some centers require sleep apnoea treatment before ablation

Medication Management:

• Rate and rhythm control medications more effective
• Reduced medication requirements in some cases
• Better overall control

For Glen Iris Patients with AFib: If you have atrial fibrillation, sleep apnoea screening is essential. Treating previously undiagnosed sleep apnoea may be the key to controlling your AFib.

Additional Health Risks of Sleep Apnoea

Beyond Cardiovascular:

While this discussion focuses on cardiovascular complications, sleep apnoea causes numerous other serious health problems:

Metabolic:

• Type 2 diabetes development
• Insulin resistance
• Obesity (bidirectional relationship)
• Metabolic syndrome

Neurological:

• Cognitive impairment and memory problems
• Increased dementia risk
• Depression and anxiety
• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue

Other:

• Motor vehicle accidents (drowsy driving)
• Workplace accidents
• Sexual dysfunction
• Reduced quality of life
• Increased all-cause mortality

Recognizing Sleep Apnoea: Warning Signs

Common Symptoms

Nighttime Symptoms:

• Loud, chronic snoring (often noted by bed partner)
• Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
• Gasping or choking awakening the person
• Frequent nighttime urination (nocturia)
• Restless sleep, frequent position changes
• Night sweats
• Insomnia or difficulty staying asleep

Daytime Symptoms:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate sleep time
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating, memory problems
• Irritability or mood changes
• Depression
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening
• Fatigue affecting work and daily activities

Risk Factors

Who Is at Higher Risk:

• Excess weight/obesity (most significant modifiable risk factor)
• Male gender (2-3 times more common in men)
• Age over 40 (risk increases with age)
• Large neck circumference (>17 inches in men, >16 inches in women)
• Anatomical features:
  • Narrow airway
  • Large tongue or tonsils
  • Recessed jaw
  • Deviated septum
• Family history of sleep apnoea
• Smoking (triples risk)
• Alcohol use (relaxes throat muscles)
• Nasal congestion
• Medical conditions:
  • Hypertension
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
  • Previous stroke

For Glen Iris Patients: If you have multiple risk factors plus symptoms, sleep apnoea screening is strongly recommended.

Diagnosis: Sleep Studies

Confirming Sleep Apnoea

Polysomnography (Sleep Study):

In-Laboratory Study:

• Overnight stay in sleep clinic
• Comprehensive monitoring:
  • Brain waves (EEG)
  • Eye movements
  • Muscle activity
  • Heart rate and rhythm
  • Breathing patterns
  • Oxygen levels
  • Body position
• Gold standard for diagnosis
• Expensive but most accurate

Home Sleep Apnoea Testing (HSAT):

• Portable monitor used at home
• Measures breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate
• More convenient and less expensive
• Suitable for many patients
• May miss some cases (less comprehensive)

What Results Show:

• AHI (Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index): Number of events per hour
• Oxygen desaturation severity
• Sleep stages affected
• Position dependency
• Guides treatment decisions

Treatment Options: Protecting Your Heart

CPAP Therapy

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure:

How It Works:

• Delivers constant air pressure through mask
• Acts as “pneumatic splint” keeping airway open
• Prevents tissue collapse
• Eliminates apnoeas

Gold Standard Treatment:

• Most effective for moderate to severe OSA
• Immediately eliminates breathing pauses
• Rapid improvement in symptoms
• Proven cardiovascular benefits

Cardiovascular Benefits:

• Reduces blood pressure
• Decreases stroke risk
• Lowers heart attack incidence
• Improves AFib treatment success
• Enhances heart failure outcomes
• May reduce mortality

Challenges:

• Requires nightly use for full benefit
• Mask discomfort initially
• Claustrophobia in some patients
• Noise (though modern machines quiet)
• Compliance critical (at least 4 hours/night, ideally 7-8+)

Improving Compliance:

• Modern masks more comfortable
• Humidification reduces dryness
• Gradual pressure ramping
• Different mask styles available
• Ongoing support and adjustments

Oral Appliance Therapy

Dental Sleep Medicine:

How It Works:

• Custom-fitted device worn during sleep
• Positions jaw forward
• Opens airway by pulling tongue base forward
• Prevents soft tissue collapse

Best For:

• Mild to moderate sleep apnoea
• CPAP intolerant patients
• Snoring without apnoea
• Positional sleep apnoea
• Patients preferring non-CPAP option

Our Glen Iris Practice Role: We can:

• Screen for sleep apnoea signs
• Refer for diagnostic testing
• Fabricate custom oral appliances
• Monitor treatment effectiveness
• Adjust appliances for optimal results
• Coordinate with sleep physicians

Effectiveness:

• 60-70% effective for mild-moderate OSA
• Reduces AHI significantly
• Improves oxygen levels
• High patient acceptance and compliance
• Cardiovascular benefits demonstrated

Advantages:

• No electricity required
• Portable for travel
• Quiet (no machine noise)
• Higher compliance rates vs. CPAP in some patients
• Non-invasive

Limitations:

• Less effective than CPAP for severe OSA
• Jaw discomfort initially (usually resolves)
• Not suitable for all patients (dental/jaw issues)
• Requires healthy teeth or implants for retention
• May cause TMJ symptoms in some cases

Lifestyle Modifications

Supporting Medical Treatment:

Weight Loss:

• 10% weight reduction can reduce AHI by 30%
• Improves or eliminates mild sleep apnoea in some cases
• Essential component of comprehensive treatment
• Benefits extend beyond sleep apnoea

Positional Therapy:

• Avoid sleeping on back (supine position)
• Side sleeping reduces apnoeas in position-dependent OSA
• Special devices or techniques maintain side position
• May eliminate apnoeas in mild positional cases

Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives:

• Relax throat muscles worsening obstruction
• Particularly problematic in evening
• Reduces arousal response

Smoking Cessation:

• Reduces airway inflammation and swelling
• Decreases sleep apnoea severity
• Improves overall cardiovascular health

Sleep Hygiene:

• Regular sleep schedule
• Adequate sleep duration
• Elevated head position
• Treating nasal congestion

Exercise:

• Improves sleep quality
• Aids weight loss
• Cardiovascular benefits
• May reduce apnoea severity independent of weight loss

Surgical Options

For Selected Cases:

Upper Airway Surgery:

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): Removing excess throat tissue
• Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy: Particularly effective in children
• Nasal surgery: Correcting deviated septum, turbinate reduction
• Tongue reduction procedures
• Jaw advancement surgery: For severe anatomical issues

Effectiveness:

• Variable success rates depending on procedure and patient
• Best for specific anatomical problems
• Often combined with other treatments
• Not first-line for most patients

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation:

• Implanted device stimulates tongue muscle
• Prevents airway collapse
• For moderate-severe OSA
• CPAP intolerant patients
• Newer, promising technology

The Critical Importance of Treatment

Why Treatment Can’t Wait

Protecting Your Heart and Brain:

Given the serious cardiovascular risks:

• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Atrial fibrillation

Untreated sleep apnoea is potentially life-threatening.

The Benefits of Treatment

Immediate Improvements:

• Better sleep quality
• Reduced daytime sleepiness
• Improved concentration and mood
• Increased energy
• Better quality of life

Long-Term Health Protection:

• Reduced blood pressure
• Lower stroke risk (up to 50% reduction)
• Decreased heart attack incidence
• Improved AFib treatment outcomes
• Reduced mortality risk
• Better management of diabetes
• Cognitive preservation

Quality of Life:

• Restored relationships (better sleep for partner too)
• Improved work performance
• Safer driving
• Enhanced emotional wellbeing
• Greater independence

Our Role: Dental Screening and Treatment in Glen Iris

How Dentists Identify Sleep Apnoea

Oral Examination Findings:

During routine dental visits, we assess:

• Tongue size and position
• Tonsil size
• Soft palate and uvula
• Jaw position and size
• Airway dimensions
• Wear patterns on teeth (grinding associated with apnoea)
• Redness in throat (from snoring vibration)
• Scalloped tongue edges (from pressing against teeth)

Patient Questionnaires:

• Screening tools (STOP-BANG, Epworth Sleepiness Scale)
• Discussion of symptoms
• Risk factor assessment

Collaboration:

• Referral to sleep physician for diagnosis
• Coordination of care
• Treatment with oral appliances when appropriate
• Ongoing monitoring

Oral Appliance Therapy in Our Practice

What We Offer:

Custom Fabrication:

• Precise impressions of teeth
• Individualized appliance design
• Comfortable, effective fit
• Adjustment for optimal positioning

Types of Appliances:

• Mandibular advancement devices (most common)
• Tongue retaining devices (specific cases)
• Selection based on individual needs

Follow-Up Care:

• Regular adjustments optimizing effectiveness
• Monitoring for side effects
• Symptom assessment
• Collaboration with sleep physician
• Replacement when necessary

Success Monitoring:

• Subjective symptom improvement
• Partner feedback on snoring
• Follow-up sleep studies confirming effectiveness
• Cardiovascular parameter improvement

Take Action: Protect Your Heart and Brain

If you have symptoms of sleep apnoea, screening and treatment could save your life.

Warning Signs Requiring Evaluation

Seek assessment if you experience:

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• High blood pressure (especially resistant)
• Atrial fibrillation
• Previous stroke or heart attack
• Combination of risk factors

Schedule Your Sleep Apnoea Screening

Our Glen Iris Practice Can:

1. Conduct oral examination for anatomical risk factors
2. Administer screening questionnaires
3. Discuss your symptoms and concerns
4. Refer to sleep physician for diagnostic testing
5. Provide oral appliance therapy if appropriate
6. Coordinate ongoing care with medical team

Don’t Delay

The Risks of Waiting:

• Continued cardiovascular damage
• Increasing stroke and heart attack risk
• Worsening hypertension
• Development or progression of AFib
• Ongoing poor sleep quality
• Daytime impairment and safety risks

The Benefits of Prompt Action:

• Early intervention prevents complications
• Treatment immediately begins protecting your heart
• Improved quality of life
• Peace of mind
• Potentially life-saving

Our Glen Iris dental practice is trained in sleep apnoea screening and oral appliance therapy. We understand the serious cardiovascular risks associated with untreated sleep apnoea and are committed to identifying at-risk patients and facilitating appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Whether through referral to sleep medicine specialists or provision of oral appliance therapy, we’re here to help protect your health. As part of the Glen Iris community, we’re dedicated to comprehensive care that addresses not just your dental health, but your overall wellbeing.

Call or book online Tooronga Family Dentistry on (03) 9822 7006 to Schedule Your Sleep Apnoea Screening – Contact our Glen Iris practice today if you suspect you may have sleep apnoea. Through oral examination, questionnaires, and discussion of your symptoms, we can assess your risk and facilitate appropriate next steps. Early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea may prevent stroke, heart attack, and other serious cardiovascular complications.

Protect Your Heart While You Sleep – Call our Glen Iris dental clinic now or book your consultation online. Sleep apnoea is more than a sleep problem—it’s a serious cardiovascular risk factor affecting over 1 million Australians. Don’t wait for a heart attack or stroke to discover you have sleep apnoea. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment are available, and we’re here to help.