If you’re worried about whether you have sleep apnea, try taking this simple self-assessment quiz to see which symptoms you’re dealing with and whether you could be suffering from sleep apnea. Tot up how many statements you agree and disagree with and check back at the bottom for your sleep apnea risk factor.
- I wake up frequently with a dry mouth and dry throat.
- I wake up with a headache in the mornings.
- I wake up feeling unrefreshed and tired, like I didn’t get any sleep.
- I fall asleep frequently throughout the day, even when I’m busy reading/watching television/eating etc.
- I feel disinterested and disassociated throughout the day and my energy levels are at a low.
- I have to have one or two naps throughout the day just to make it through to the evening, but these naps are rarely refreshing.
- I try to sleep in on the weekend to make up for loss of sleep during the week, but I don’t seem to feel much better even if I get three or four hours of extra sleep.
- I feel like I fight to stay awake during the day.
- I cannot concentrate on tasks that I used to be able to concentrate on and I am becoming forgetful.
- I feel irritable all of the time and I get very snappy, even with friends and family.
- I have difficulty in getting up and out of bed in the morning.
- I am a frequent and loud snorer.
- My bed-partner has to sleep in a separate room because my snoring is so loud and obtrusive.
- My snoring gets worse with alcohol or when I have a cold.
- I frequently wake up gasping for breath.
- I wake up frequently during the night and I’m never sure why.
- I breathe through my mouth when I’m both asleep and awake.
- I often wake up feeling like I am choking.
- My bed-partner has told me that I have stopped breathing in my sleep on numerous occasions.
- I often have nightmares and episodes of sleep paralysis.
- I have had several episodes of sexual dysfunction where there used to be no problem.
- I have frequent ear infections.
- I have frequent sinus infections.
- I have excessive daytime sleepiness.
- My mood and my behavior has changed and I feel like a different person, not for the better.
How Did You Score & What Does it Mean?
If you’ve scored three or more yesses between number one and number ten, but you’ve scored no other yesses after number 11, it’s likely that you have a sleep disorder which may be sleep apnea, but you’re not manifesting any of the usual symptoms. Go to your doctor and talk through your symptoms.
If you’ve scored three or more yesses between number 11 and number 25, it’s possible that you are suffering from sleep apnea. You should see a doctor as soon as possible so that they can refer you to a sleep clinic for a diagnostic test. Sleep apnea can be fatal and you absolutely need to begin treatment as soon as possible if you do have sleep apnea.
If you’ve scored less than three points from the entire test, it’s unlikely that you have any form of a sleep disorder, but if you’re worried, go to your doctor and talk over your concerns.
Even if you have scored over three points on the whole test, that does not indicate that you definitely have a sleep disorder. This test is not meant to be an alternative to medical advice and it should not be used as such.