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.
TL;DR
- STOP-BANG score 5+ = high risk of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea.
- Witnessed breathing pauses + daytime sleepiness = see a doctor.
- This is a screen, not a diagnosis. Definitive answer comes from a sleep study.
- Sleep apnea is treatable; untreated, it raises cardiovascular and accident risk substantially.
The STOP-BANG questionnaire
Developed for preoperative screening but widely used in primary care. Score 1 point for each "yes":
- S — Do you snore loudly (louder than talking, or heard through a closed door)?
- T — Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the day?
- O — Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
- P — Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
- B — Is your BMI over 35?
- A — Is your age over 50?
- N — Is your neck circumference over 16 inches (40 cm) for women, 17 inches (43 cm) for men?
- 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
- 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."
- 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.
- 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.
Track what your partner says they see
The most diagnostic symptom — witnessed apneas — is also the hardest to document. SnoreCam captures short video clips when audio or motion triggers fire, on-device only. The recordings often catch the snore → silence → gasp pattern that a sleep doctor will recognize. Useful evidence to bring to your appointment.
FAQ
What STOP-BANG score means I'm at risk for sleep apnea?
A STOP-BANG score of 5 to 8 indicates high risk of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, and a sleep study is appropriate. A score of 3-4 is intermediate risk worth discussing with your doctor, and 0-2 is low risk. The questionnaire scores one point each for loud snoring, daytime tiredness, observed breathing pauses, high blood pressure, BMI over 35, age over 50, large neck circumference, and male gender.
What is the single most telling symptom of sleep apnea?
Witnessed apneas — a partner seeing you stop breathing, gasp, or choke during sleep — is the single most specific symptom. If anyone has observed this, see a doctor regardless of your STOP-BANG score. Excessive daytime sleepiness despite 7-9 hours in bed and loud snoring heard from another room are the other strong signals.
Can this checker diagnose sleep apnea?
No. STOP-BANG and this checklist are screening tools, not diagnostic instruments — they help you decide whether to seek evaluation. A definitive diagnosis requires a sleep study ordered by a physician, either in-lab polysomnography or a home sleep apnea test. Score high or have witnessed apneas, and the next step is talking to a doctor.
Why does it matter to get sleep apnea diagnosed?
Untreated moderate-to-severe sleep apnea is linked to 2-3x higher risk of hypertension, roughly 2x higher stroke risk, atrial fibrillation, motor vehicle accidents, worse diabetes outcomes, and increased all-cause mortality. Treated, most of those risks normalize or substantially decrease. It's one of the few common conditions where diagnosis genuinely changes outcomes — but only if you 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.