Sleep Apnea Quiz

Sleep is important to your well-being. Since most people spend roughly one-third of their lives asleep, it is easy to relate the quality of sleep to the quality of life.

One out of three Americans has a sleep disorder which can make the sleeping or waking hours miserable. Once detected, most sleep disorders can be corrected. This simple quiz is designed to alert you to any problems resulting from poor quality of sleep.

If you have experienced any of the following symptoms in the last year, put a checkmark beside the number.

1. I have difficulty falling asleep.
2. Thoughts race through my mind, and this prevents me from sleeping.
3. I am afraid to go to sleep.
4. I wake up during the night and cannot go back to sleep.
5. I worry about things and have trouble relaxing.
6. I wake up earlier in the morning than I would like to.
7. I lie awake for half an hour or more before I fall asleep.
8. I feel sad and depressed.
9. I have been told that I snore.
10. I have been told that I stop breathing while I sleep, although I do not remember this when I wake up.
11. I have high blood pressure.
12. My friends and family say they have noticed a change in my personality.
13. I am gaining weight.
14. I sweat excessively during the night.
15. I have noticed my heart beating irregularly or pounding during the night.
16. I have morning headaches.
17. I have trouble sleeping, when I have a cold.
18. I suddenly wake up unable to breathe during the night.
19. I am overweight.
20. I have lost interest in sex.
21. I feel sleepy during the daytime.
22. I have fallen asleep at school or lunch.
23. When I get angry or surprised, my body feels limp.
24. I have fallen asleep while driving.
25. I remember vivid dreams as I fall asleep.
26. I feel like I am walking around in a daze.
27. I have fallen asleep while working.
28. I have fallen asleep when laughing or crying.
29. I have fallen asleep while eating.
30. I feel like I have to cram activities into every hour to get work done.
31. I nap frequently and wake refreshed.
32. I fall asleep no matter how hard I try to stay awake.
33. I remember having vivid nightmares when I go to sleep.
34. I have felt like I cannot move when I fall asleep or wake up.
35. I fall asleep during the day, even though I feel I have slept enough the night before.
36. I wake up at night with heartburn.
37. I have a chronic cough.
38. I wake up frequently with a dry mouth.
39. I use stomach antacids almost every week for stomach trouble.
40. I wake up at night coughing or wheezing.
41. I frequently have sore throats.
42. During the night, I suddenly wake up and am unable to go back to sleep.
43. I have muscle cramps in my legs.
44. I often feel that "I have to move my legs" and cannot keep them still.
45. I have been told that I kick my legs throughout the night.
46. I awaken with sore, "achy" muscles.
47. I awaken with leg pains at night.
48. Even though I have slept eight hours, I am sleepy at various times in the day.
49. In the morning when I wake up, my bed covers are a mess.
50. I frequently feel muscle tension in my legs, even when I am not exercising.

Score Yourself …

Questions 1 through 8:

If you marked three or more, you show symptoms of insomnia; a transient or persistent inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Questions 9 through 21:

If you marked three or more, you show symptoms of sleep apnea; a life-threatening disorder which causes you to stop breathing repeatedly (often hundreds of times per night) while you sleep.

Questions 22 through 35:

If you marked three or more, you show symptoms of narcolepsy; a life-long disorder characterized by uncontrolled sleep attacks during the day.

Questions 36 through 42:

If you marked three or more, you show symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux; a disorder caused when acid in the stomach "backs up" into the esophagus at night.

Questions 43 through 50:

If you marked three or more, you show symptoms of nocturnal myoclonus or restless leg syndrome; a disorder characterized by pain or "crawling" sensations in the legs.

This quiz informs you of symptoms that are similar to those in individuals with sleep disorders. It is intended as a general source of information and does not contain medical advice. The guide should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Only a physician or sleep disorders center with experienced, accredited staff can determine if you have a specific sleep disorder. If you are having trouble sleeping, share this information with your physician.