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Sleep Apnea Risk Check

Eight yes or no questions. About one minute. Then where to get a sleep test.

Most people with sleep apnea do not know they have it. This check uses STOP BANG, the same eight questions many doctors use to decide who should get a sleep test. It cannot tell you if you have sleep apnea. It can tell you if a test is worth asking for.

The Eight Questions

Answer yes or no. Nothing you pick leaves this page and nothing is saved.

Do you snore loudly?

Loud enough to hear through a closed door, or loud enough that a bed partner nudges you.

Do you often feel tired or sleepy during the day?

Even after a full night in bed, or you nod off while reading or watching TV.

Has anyone seen you stop breathing, choke or gasp in your sleep?

Ask a bed partner or anyone who has seen you sleep.

Do you have high blood pressure, or take medicine for it?
Is your BMI over 35?

Not sure? Put in your height and weight below and it fills in for you.

Are you older than 50?
Is your neck large?

A shirt collar of 17 inches or more for men, or 16 inches or more for women. Measure around the Adam’s apple.

Are you male?

Men get sleep apnea more often than women, so the score counts it.

Answer all eight to see your result.

How the Score Works

Each yes counts as one point, for a score from zero to eight.

  • Zero to two is low risk.
  • Three or four is middle risk.
  • Five to eight is high risk.

A lower score can still be high risk. If you said yes to two or more of the first four questions, and you are also male, have a BMI over 35, or have a large neck, the check counts you as high risk. That rule comes from the team that made STOP BANG.

BMI here is your weight in pounds times 703, divided by your height in inches squared. That is the formula the CDC uses for adults.

Find a Sleep Test Near You

A sleep test is the only way to know. NightWells lists 1,219 places for an overnight study in a lab and 42 places that say they offer a home sleep test, in the states we cover so far.

Not sure which kind of test? Read Home Test or Lab, what to expect at a sleep study, and whether insurance covers it. You can also search by name or town.

Common Questions

What is STOP BANG?

It is a short list of eight yes or no questions doctors use to screen for sleep apnea. Each letter stands for one question. Snoring, Tired, Observed, Pressure, BMI, Age, Neck and Gender. It was built at Toronto Western Hospital and is used in clinics and before surgery around the world.

What does my STOP BANG score mean?

Zero to two yes answers is low risk. Three or four is middle risk. Five or more is high risk. You can also be high risk with fewer yes answers, if two of the first four are yes and you are male, have a BMI over 35, or have a large neck.

How good is STOP BANG?

It is good at not missing people. In the first study a score of three or more caught about 9 in 10 people with moderate or severe sleep apnea, and all of the people with severe apnea. It also flags many people who turn out not to have it. That is why it leads to a test, not a diagnosis.

Can this check tell me if I have sleep apnea?

No. Only a sleep study can show that. A low score does not rule it out, and a high score does not prove it. Use the result as a reason to talk with a clinician.

What should I do with a high score?

Ask your doctor or a sleep clinic about a sleep test. Many people can do a home test in their own bed. Others need a night in a sleep lab. Read Home Test or Lab to see which fits.

Where These Facts Come From

NightWells publishes information, not medical advice. This check is a screening tool only. It does not diagnose sleep apnea or any other condition, and a low score does not rule it out. If you stop breathing in your sleep, feel very sleepy while driving, or have chest pain, see a clinician soon. The questions are put in plain words from STOP BANG, and the scoring is the STOP BANG scoring.