Two minutes. The same screening questions doctors use.
What the apnea score is, and what it is not
The eight questions are STOP-BANG, the screening questionnaire used in sleep clinics and before surgery. Four ask about symptoms, snoring, daytime tiredness, witnessed pauses in breathing and blood pressure, and four about the things that raise risk: BMI over 35, age over 50, a collar size of 16 inches or more, and being male. One point each, out of eight, and the cut points of three and five are the published ones rather than any we chose.
It is very good at not missing people. Pooled across 17 studies and 9,206 patients, a score of three or more caught 94% of moderate to severe sleep apnea and 96% of severe. Nagappa et al, PLOS ONE 2015.
And that is the half that gets quoted. At the same cut point its specificity for moderate to severe apnea was 34%, which means most people who score three or more do not have sleep apnea. A high score is a reason to ask for a sleep study, not a result. The number it is genuinely good at is the low one: score under three and severe apnea is unlikely.
Every figure on this site names where it came from. How we check.
Before you buy anything for sleep
No gadget fixes sleep apnea. But if your score above suggests a sleep study, a simple pulse oximeter can give your doctor useful overnight numbers for under $30.
Buying through this link supports the free library with a small commission. It never changes a pick.
Common questions
How much sleep do adults and seniors really need?
Most adults need 7 to 9 hours a night, and adults over 65 need about 7 to 8. Needing less sleep is not a normal part of aging; older adults often just have more trouble staying asleep. If you regularly sleep under 6 hours or feel tired most days, it is worth mentioning to your doctor.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing stops and starts many times during sleep, often with loud snoring, gasping, or choking sounds. Each pause briefly wakes the brain, so you can spend eight hours in bed and still feel exhausted. Untreated, it raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, and daytime accidents, so ask your own doctor about testing if it sounds familiar.
Is snoring always sleep apnea?
No. Many people snore without having sleep apnea, especially after alcohol or when sleeping on their back. The warning signs that point beyond simple snoring are pauses in breathing that someone else notices, gasping awake, morning headaches, and heavy daytime sleepiness. If any of those apply, bring it up with your doctor.
What does a sleep study involve?
Many sleep studies are now done at home with a small device you wear for one night that tracks your breathing, oxygen level, and heart rate. Some people are sent to a sleep lab instead, where sensors record brain waves and movement overnight while you sleep in a private room. Neither type is painful, and your doctor uses the results to decide if treatment such as CPAP would help.
How much sleep do adults actually need?
Seven to nine hours for most adults, and the low end of that range is a real minimum, not a target. Needing an alarm every day, dozing in front of the TV, and drowsy driving moments are signs the body is running short, whatever the clock says. Older adults need almost as much; they just get it less easily.