Should I be concerned about my sleep?

If you have excessive sleepness or suspect that you have a sleep apnoea related problem, take this test that uses the medical standard Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). This Sleepiness Scale was developed by Dr. Murray Johns at the Epworth Hospital at Melbourne, Australia to determine daytime sleepiness.

How to answer the Epworth Test questions 

Some questions may seem a little odd and need some thought before answering:
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to just feeling tired? This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you have not done some of these things recently, try to work out how they would have affected you.

Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:
0 = No chance of dozing
1 = Slight chance of dozing
2 = Modorate chance of dozing
3 = High chance of dozing

Situation Chance of dozing

Sitting and reading

0   1   2   3

Watching TV

0   1   2   3

Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g. a theatre or meeting)

0   1   2   3

As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break

0   1   2   3

Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit

0   1   2   3

Sitting and talking to someone

0   1   2   3

Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol

0   1   2   3

In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in the traffic

0   1   2   3


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(1) Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth sleepiness scale. Sleep 1991 14:540-5. (The Epworth scale is named after Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, where Dr Johns worked.)