Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent breathing disturbance in sleep and is characterized by repeated episodes of cessation of breathing due to a narrowing of the airway. It is estimated that OSA affects anywhere from 2 to 26 percent of the general population. Even more alarming is that around 80 percent of men and 93 percent of women with moderate to severe sleep apnea are unaware they have this disorder.

Obstructive sleep apnea is also known to be an independent risk factor for high blood pressure, heart attack, irregular heart rhythm, diabetes and is even associated with a high risk for traffic accidents.

The STOP Questionnaire for OSA
S: Do you snore loudly?
T: Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during daytime?
O: Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
P: Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?

If you answer “yes” to two or more of these questions, then you are ranked as being at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea.   This score should be discussed with your personal physician.

How likely are you to fall asleep in the following situations?
0 = would never doze
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing

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.