Obstructive Sleep Apnea

What are the signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• Snoring, interrupted by pauses in breathing
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Restless sleep
• Excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day
• Poor judgment or concentration
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Obesity
• Large neck size (>17" in men; >16" in women)
• Crowded airway
• Morning headache
• Sexual dysfunction
• Frequent urination at night

If you or someone you know snores regularly and has one or more of the above symptoms, it may be Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Also, you can take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale assessment.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale 

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is used to determine the level of daytime sleepiness. A score of 10 or more is considered sleepy. A score of 18 or more is very sleepy. If you score 10 or more on this test, you should consider whether you are obtaining adequate sleep, need to improve your sleep hygiene and/or need to see a sleep specialist. These issues should be discussed with your personal physician.
Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:
0 = would never doze or sleep.
1 = slight chance of dozing or sleeping
2 = moderate chance of dozing or sleeping
3 = high chance of dozing or sleeping

Print out this test, fill in your answers and see where you stand.