PATIENT INFORMATION

• S (Snore) Do you snore? Do you snore?
• T (Tired) Do you feel fatigued during the day? Do you wake up feeling like you have not slept?
• O (Obstruction) Have you been told you stop breathing at night? Do you gasp for air or choke while sleeping?
• P (Pressure) Do you have high blood pressure or are on medication to control high blood pressure?

SCORE: If you answered YES to two or more questions on the STOP portion, you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea.

• B (BMI) Is your body mass index greater than 28?
• A (Age) Are you 50 years old or older?
• N (Neck) Are you a male with a neck circumference greater than 17 inches or a female with a neck circumference greater than 16 inches?
• G (Gender) Are you a male?

SCORE: The more questions you answered YES to on the BANG portion place you at a greater risk of having moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a physical obstruction blocks your airway completely during sleep, causing breathing to stop. This is caused by over-relaxed oral tissue. An episode can last for up to 10 seconds until your brain is triggered by a lack of oxygen to wake up and clear the airway. These episodes can take place in your unconscious sleep state, so you might not be aware how often it is occurring throughout the night. Patients who snore as a symptom of OSA may also have trouble getting typical levels of oxygen during sleep and stop breathing throughout the night without realizing it is happening.

Loud snoring is a main symptom that is associated with OSA that prompts many patients to pursue treatment. However, there are numerous other symptoms that can be apparent during the daytime hours that are linked to OSA. These symptoms include the following:

• Daytime fatigue
• Poor concentration or memory
• Mood swings
• Sleepiness during daily activities
• Morning headaches and migraines
• Snoring with pauses or loud snoring
• Increased hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Decreased sex drive
• Weight gain
• Waking during sleep due to gasping or choking
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack/congestive heart failure)