← Learn

Sleep Apnea Symptoms Checker (STOP-BANG and Beyond)

Sleep apnea affects an estimated 25 million American adults — and roughly 80% of moderate-to-severe cases are undiagnosed. This isn't a self-diagnosis tool, but it's a useful filter: if your symptoms match the patterns below, it's worth booking a sleep study. The single best screening instrument primary-care doctors use is STOP-BANG. Here it is, plus the broader warning signs to take seriously.

The STOP-BANG questionnaire

Developed for preoperative screening but widely used in primary care. Score 1 point for each "yes":

1. S — Do you snore loudly (louder than talking, or heard through a closed door)?
2. T — Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the day?
3. O — Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
4. P — Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
5. B — Is your BMI over 35?
6. A — Is your age over 50?
7. N — Is your neck circumference over 16 inches (40 cm) for women, 17 inches (43 cm) for men?
8. G — Are you male (gender)?

Score interpretation:

• 0-2: Low risk of moderate-to-severe OSA
• 3-4: Intermediate risk — worth discussing with your doctor
• 5-8: High risk — sleep study is appropriate

Important: this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Score high → talk to a doctor. Score low but have witnessed apneas → still talk to a doctor. The STOP-BANG isn't perfect; it misses some women and lean patients.

The warning-sign checklist (regardless of STOP-BANG)

Strong signals (any one = see a doctor)

• Witnessed apneas. A partner has seen you stop breathing, gasp, or choke during sleep. This is the single most specific symptom.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness despite 7-9 hours in bed. Falling asleep at red lights, in meetings, at your desk. Score yourself on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale if you want a more structured measure.
• Loud, disruptive snoring heard from another room or another floor.
• Morning headaches on most days, often relieved within an hour of waking. Caused by overnight CO₂ retention during apneic episodes.

Moderate signals (cluster of 2-3 = see a doctor)

• Dry mouth or sore throat on waking
• Frequent nighttime urination (3+ times)
• Difficult-to-control high blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes (strong association with OSA)
• Atrial fibrillation
• Acid reflux that worsens at night
• Mood changes, brain fog, memory issues
• Decreased libido
• Restless sleep (kicking, frequent position changes)
• Waking up gasping or choking

Risk factors (don't cause apnea but raise the odds)

• Male sex (about 2x higher risk than premenopausal women)
• Age over 50
• BMI over 25, especially with neck fat distribution
• Family history of sleep apnea
• Large neck circumference
• Crowded airway (large tongue, low-hanging soft palate, enlarged tonsils)
• Postmenopausal status (for women — protection from progesterone drops)
• Hypothyroidism, acromegaly, certain other endocrine conditions
• Smoking (current or recent)
• Alcohol use, especially at bedtime

If your score is concerning, what next

1. Talk to your primary care doctor. Mention your STOP-BANG score and your specific symptoms. Don't minimize — say "I snore loudly and my partner has seen me stop breathing," not "I might snore sometimes."
2. Ask for a referral to a sleep specialist or for a home sleep apnea test (HSAT) order. Most insurance plans cover HSAT for screening when symptoms are present.
3. Bring documentation. If a partner witnesses apneas, get them to record what they see — short video clips, descriptions, frequency estimates. Doctors take partner observations seriously.

See our full diagnosis guide for what the sleep-study process actually looks like.

Why it matters to get diagnosed

Untreated moderate-to-severe sleep apnea is associated with:

• 2-3x higher risk of hypertension
• ~2x higher risk of stroke
• 2-3x higher risk of atrial fibrillation
• Significantly elevated risk of motor vehicle accidents
• Worsened insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes outcomes
• Elevated rate of cognitive decline
• Increased all-cause mortality

Treated, most of these risks normalize or substantially decrease. Sleep apnea is one of the few common medical conditions where diagnosis genuinely changes outcomes — but only if you actually get the diagnosis.

Related reading

SnoreCam is not a medical device. STOP-BANG and this checker are screening tools, not diagnostic instruments. Definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea requires a sleep study ordered by a physician. If your symptoms suggest sleep apnea, see a qualified healthcare provider.