Question:
Sleep Apnea Questionnaire and web links (4/30/00) ?
Answer:
Questionaire for identifying possible sleep apnea
Quiz from Phantom of the Night (Free: score yourself)
* Cuestionario de autoevaluacisn de Apneas de Suego
You don't have to feel lousy, sleepy, or tired.
"My father snored and gasped. I snore and gasp. What could that have to
do with feeling lousy all the time? Turns out there was a connection.
Find out what it is."---Daniel Pinkwater, author and National Public
Radio commentator.
Every night, a phantom---sleep apnea syndrome---steals sleep from
millions of unsuspecting victims. You may be among them if your sleep is
repeatedly disturbed by snoring, by choking halts in breathing, and by
gasping efforts to breathe. You could be in danger of losing your
health, years of productivity and happiness, and your life.
The struggle between sleep and breathing is caused by sleep apnea
syndrome which leaves victims unaware of the source of their daytime
sleepiness. Less than five percent of those who may have sleep apnea
have been diagnosed and treated. Because sleep disorders medicine is so
new, many physicians may not be trained to recognise the symptoms. So,
chances are that you could be affected without you or your doctor
suspecting it.
This short quiz is designed to help you to recognize possible sleep
apnea so that you can realize there can be relief for your symptoms.
While awake
* Do you wake up in the morning tired and foggy, not ready to face
the day?
* Do you have headaches in the morning?
* Are you very sleepy during the day?
* Do you fall asleep easily during the day?
* Do you have difficulty concentrating, being productive, and
completing tasks at work?
* Do you carry out routine tasks in a daze?
* Have you ever arrived home in your car but couldn't remember the
trip from work?
Adjustment and emotional issues
* Are you having serious relationship problems at home, with
friends and relatives, or at work?
* Are you afraid that you may be out of touch with the real world,
unable to think clearly, losing your memory, or emotionally ill?
* Do your friends tell you that you're not like yourself?
* Are you depressed?
* Are you irritable and angry, especially first thing in the
morning?
Medical, physical condition, and lifestyle
* Are you overweight?
* Do you have high blood pressure?
* Do you have pains in your bones and joints?
* Do you have trouble breathing through your nose?
* Do you often have a drink of alcohol before going to bed?
* If you are a man, is your collar size 17 inches (42 centimeters)
or larger?
During sleep and in the bedroom
* Do you snore loudly each night?
* Do you have frequent pauses in breathing while you sleep (you
stop breathing for ten seconds or longer)?
* Are you restless during sleep, tossing and turning from one side
to another?
* Does your posture during sleep seem unusual? (Do you sleep
sitting up or propped up by pillows?)
* Do you have insomnia? (Waking up frequently and without a
reason)
* Do you have to get up to urinate several times during the night?
* Have you wet your bed?
* Have you fallen from bed?
What is your score?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may have sleep
apnea. However, if you answered "yes" to any of the following especially
important four questions, this strongly suggests that sleep apnea is the
problem.
* Are you very sleepy during the day?
* Do you fall asleep easily during the day?
* Do you snore loudly each night?
* Do you have frequent pauses in breathing while you sleep (you
stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer)?
What can I do about sleep apnea?
How can I be sure if I do---or don't have it?
See your doctor or go to a professional in sleep disorders
The purpose of this quiz is to make you aware of possible apnea. You
might have some other medical or emotional condition, or even some other
sleep disorder. You might even have sleep apnea and not have answered
"yes" to any of the questions; some people have apnea but don't snore,
for example.
No quiz or questionnaire alone should be the basis for diagnosing a
medical condition. You should talk about the results of this quiz with
your primary care physician. This quiz can help in your talk because
each question points to a sign or symptom which is often found in
connection with sleep apnea. After ruling out other possible medical
problems, your doctor may suggest you have an evaluation at a sleep
laboratory or with a professional trained in diagnosing and treating
sleep disorders.
Learn more about sleep apnea and snoring so you can get effective
treatment
You can find it useful to read about sleep apnea so that you can
communicate effectively with your physician and understand your
treatment options. This quiz is based on a handbook which is used by
thousands of professionals as well as patients. Phantom of the Night:
Overcome sleep apnea syndrome and snoring combines the viewpoints of a
pulmonologist who is a specialist in sleep disorders and a patient with
sleep apnea to explain how to understand sleep apnea, obtain a
diagnosis, and succeed with treatment.
Do you wonder how such a wide variety of symptoms can be caused by the
same disorder? The symptoms indicated by the questionaire are explained
in this book.
Depression and a number of other symptoms of sleep apnea can have a
severe impact on health, well being, relationships, and economic
success. To learn more, you can read articles about sleep apnea,
snoring, and the role of diagnosis and treatment. And you can read about
Phantom of the Night (see selections from the book online)to appreciate
the importance of getting effective treatment for apnea. The information
in this book will help you obtain the diagnosis and treatment which can
literally transform your life. And you will learn the importance of
protecting yourself against some of the dangers faced by persons with
sleep apnea---like avoiding accidents caused by falling asleep while
driving; or life-threatening medical emergencies that can be brought on
by anesthesia or other treatments and procedures. And you will have
information that gives you access to resources---like support and
education groups for persons with sleep apnea and their families.
Finally, this handbook can be your guide to making sure your treatment
is effective and put you in control of restoring your life to health and
well-being.
T. Scott Johnson, M.D. and Jerry Halberstadt, Phantom of the Night:
Overcome sleep apnea syndrome and snoring---win your hidden struggle to
breathe, sleep, and live. Illustrated, 192 pages, 8.5 x 11", paper,
Copyright © 1996 New Technology Publishing, Inc. Cambridge & Onset, MA,
USA; ISBN 1-882431-02-2; $29.95
How to order the handbook for patients: Phantom of the Night: Overcome
Sleep Apnea & Snoring by T.S. Johnson M.D. & Jerry Halberstadt
To order Phantom of the Night ISBN 1-882431-02-2 direct from the
publisher PREPAID at a 10% saving: please send your check or money order
for $26.95 (Please add 5% sales tax in MA) (includes Priority Mail S&H)
Only valid for USA sales. Please be sure to include your Name, full
Mailing Address, your Telephone Number, and your e-mail address. Please
make checks payable to
New Technology Publishing, Inc.,
6 West Boulevard,
POB 1737,
Onset MA 02558-1737
USA
Source: This questionnaire is based on Phantom of the Night. This page
may only be quoted or copied as a whole including this notice, copyright
notice, attribution, and ordering information. Copyright © 1995 New
Technology Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither the publisher
nor the authors are engaged in providing medical or professional
services through the distribution or sale of the book or these
materials. Persons with suspected or diagnosed sleep apnea syndrome
should consult with a physician and other professionals for advice
concerning their own treatment.
this helps a lot for those who have trouble sleeping right.
Most of us know that we need that REM sleep to really help control our
Disorder and those with Apnea sure must suffer more without the right
sleep....
I'v never made note of this before, but I want you to know how much I
appreciate the rescearch you do and your contributions to this group by
posting your finding. I file all of it and it has been a great benefit to
me. You are a treasure to most of us here.
Sleep apnea can be very disruptive which is my reasoning for posting
several times on this topic. An interrupted sleep schedule or poor sleep
is not a good sign.
