Loud snoring, someone seeing you stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, and daytime sleepiness are the main warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea. Excess weight, a large neck, being male and high blood pressure raise the risk. If you have breathing pauses, or loud snoring with sleepiness, ask your doctor about a sleep test.
Calculations run in your browser. Inputs are not sent to our servers; anything you Save stays in this browser only.
Saved results (0)
How To Use The Sleep Apnea Risk Calculator
- Answer the night-time questions. Ask a bed partner if you can: many people do not know they snore or stop breathing.
- Add daytime symptoms. Sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches and similar problems.
- Add your risk factors. Height and weight for BMI, neck size, blood pressure, evening alcohol and family history.
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Your result | Few signs, worth mentioning, or ask about a sleep test |
| Night signs | Loud snoring and breathing pauses or gasping |
| Daytime symptoms | Sleepiness and other common symptoms |
| Risk factors and BMI | Factors that raise the chance of sleep apnea |
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, so breathing stops and starts. Each pause can wake the brain briefly, often with a snort or gasp, so sleep is broken even if you do not remember waking.
Common signs are loud snoring, pauses in breathing that someone else notices, and feeling sleepy or unrefreshed in the day. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and slim people can have it too. Our guide to snoring causes and solutions explains the difference.
Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease; see sleep apnea health risks.
How Does The Sleep Apnea Risk Calculator Work?
It groups your answers the way the American Academy of Sleep Medicine self-test does, counts each group, and applies a simple rule.
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m) squared; Night signs (0-2); Daytime symptoms (0-2); Risk factors (0-6)| Result | When it shows |
|---|---|
| Ask your doctor about a sleep test | Breathing pauses or gasping; or loud snoring plus daytime sleepiness; or loud snoring plus 2 or more risk factors |
| Worth mentioning to your doctor | Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, or 2 or more risk factors |
| Few signs of sleep apnea | None of the above |
The rule is our own plain summary of published warning signs and risk factors. It is not a validated score and cannot diagnose sleep apnea.
Worked Example: A Loud Snorer Who Is Tired All Day
| Answer | Counts as |
|---|---|
| Loud snoring; partner has seen breathing stop | Night signs 2 of 2 |
| Sleepy every afternoon; morning headaches and poor concentration | Daytime symptoms 2 of 2 |
| 175 cm, 95 kg | BMI 31.0, obese |
| Male, large neck, high blood pressure | Risk factors 4 of 6 |
| Result | Ask your doctor about a sleep test |
Witnessed pauses in breathing alone are enough to see a doctor. A home sleep apnea test or an overnight lab study can confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
This Calculator vs The STOP-Bang Questionnaire
| This calculator | STOP-Bang | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A checklist of published warning signs and risk factors | A validated 8-question screening tool used by clinicians |
| Scoring | Counts by group and a plain rule | 1 point per yes; 0 to 2 low, 3 to 4 intermediate, 5 to 8 high risk |
| Who owns it | SleepCalculators.online | University Health Network, Toronto (use needs permission) |
Both are screening aids, not diagnoses. Your doctor may use STOP-Bang or a similar questionnaire at your appointment. Read more in our guide to the STOP-Bang questionnaire.
Factors That Raise Sleep Apnea Risk
Excess Weight
The biggest risk factor. A BMI of 25 or more is overweight and 30 or more obese, and fat around the neck can narrow the airway.
Neck Size And Airway Shape
A neck of 17 inches or more in men or 16 inches or more in women, a small or recessed jaw, or large tonsils narrow the airway.
Sex And Age
Sleep apnea is more common in men; in women the risk rises after menopause. Risk also increases with age.
Alcohol And Sedatives
They relax the airway and make it harder to wake, which can lengthen pauses in breathing.
Who Should Use A Sleep Apnea Risk Calculator?
- Loud snorers, especially if a partner has noticed pauses or gasping.
- People who are tired despite enough time in bed; check your sleep time with the sleep duration calculator.
- People with high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes, conditions common in people with sleep apnea.
- Bed partners worried about someone else breathing at night.
Common Mistakes About Sleep Apnea
Thinking Snoring Is Always Harmless
Most snoring is harmless, but loud snoring with pauses or gasping is a warning sign.
Thinking Only Overweight People Get It
Weight is the biggest risk factor, but slim people can have sleep apnea too.
Blaming Tiredness On A Busy Life
Constant sleepiness despite enough sleep deserves a check.
Driving When Very Sleepy
If you nod off while driving or in conversation, see a doctor promptly and avoid driving drowsy.
Accuracy And Limitations
The calculator flags signs and risk factors; only a sleep test can diagnose sleep apnea or measure how severe it is.
What It Does Well
- Brings the main warning signs together
- Calculates BMI
- Gives a clear next step
What It Cannot Do
- Diagnose sleep apnea or its severity
- Replace STOP-Bang or a clinical assessment
- Assess central sleep apnea or children
How We Assess Sleep Apnea Risk
Sleep Apnea Risk Calculator FAQs
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
Loud snoring, someone seeing you stop breathing, waking up gasping and daytime sleepiness are the main signs. Only a sleep test can diagnose it.
Can you have sleep apnea without snoring?
Yes. Snoring is common in sleep apnea, but not everyone with it snores loudly.
Can thin people have sleep apnea?
Yes. Excess weight is the biggest risk factor, but jaw shape, neck size, large tonsils and family history also matter.
What neck size increases sleep apnea risk?
A neck of 17 inches (43 cm) or more for men, or 16 inches (41 cm) or more for women.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
With a sleep study, either a home sleep apnea test or an overnight study in a sleep lab.
Is this the same as STOP-Bang?
No. STOP-Bang is a validated questionnaire that needs permission to use. This calculator is a checklist of published warning signs and risk factors.
Is sleep apnea dangerous?
Untreated, it is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, and daytime sleepiness can be risky when driving. Treatment is effective.
Does alcohol make sleep apnea worse?
Alcohol and sedating medicines can relax the airway and lengthen breathing pauses, so avoid them close to bedtime.
Sources
- AASM Sleep Education: Obstructive sleep apnea (self-test, risk factors, diagnosis)
- NHLBI: Sleep apnea causes and risk factors (age, obesity, airway features)
- NHLBI: Sleep apnea symptoms (snoring, gasping, daytime sleepiness)
- MedlinePlus: Sleep apnea (risk: overweight, male, family history)
- STOP-Bang Questionnaire (University Health Network) (STOP-Bang risk bands; permission required)
Related Calculators
For bedtimes and wake-up times in both directions, use the main sleep calculator. Explore every sleep timing, sleep need and sleep health tool in one place.
All sleep toolsThis calculator checks warning signs and risk factors for general education. It is not STOP-Bang and cannot diagnose sleep apnea. See a doctor if you have pauses in breathing, loud snoring with daytime sleepiness, or fall asleep while driving. Spotted an error? Let us know.