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Sleep Apnea Risk Screener

Eight quick questions clinicians use to decide who needs a sleep study. Takes a minute.

1. Do you snore loudly — loud enough to be heard through a closed door, or that bothers your partner?

S — Snoring. Loud, habitual snoring is the most common visible sign of upper-airway collapse.

2. Do you feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the day on most days?

T — Tiredness. Daytime sleepiness despite a full night in bed is a hallmark of fragmented sleep.

3. Has anyone observed you stop breathing, choke, or gasp during your sleep?

O — Observed apneas. Even one such observation from a partner is a strong predictor.

4. Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?

P — Pressure. Untreated apnea drives hypertension; the link runs both ways.

5. Is your body mass index (BMI) greater than 35?

B — BMI. Soft tissue around the upper airway is the biggest single risk factor.

6. Are you older than 50?

A — Age. Airway tone decreases with age, raising risk independent of weight.

7. Is your neck circumference greater than 40 cm (≈16 in)?

N — Neck. Measured around the Adam's apple. Reflects soft-tissue volume around the airway.

8. Are you male?

G — Gender. Males are diagnosed roughly twice as often as females, though women are likely under-diagnosed.

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