Quiz: Do you have a sleeping problem?

Source: Adapted from Sleep to Be Sexy, Smart and Slim

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale, developed by Dr. Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, is a standard used by sleep specialists to judge a person’s level of daytime sleepiness. To find out your level, simply note the answers below that answer the question "What are the chances you’ll doze off in these situations?"

‘ Sitting and reading
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ Watching TV
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ Sitting inactively in a public place, such as a theater or a meeting
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ Lying down to rest in the afternoon
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ Sitting and talking to someone
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ Sitting quietly after a lunch (without alcohol)
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

‘ In a car while stopped for a few minutes in traffic
0 None
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 High

Now total up your score. Here’s what we think it means:
‘ If you tallied less than 8 points on our sleep quiz, you’re in good shape. You probably get a full eight hours of slumber every night, bounce out of bed at 5:00 A.M., and are ready to charge out the door an hour later.

‘ If you tallied 8 to 11 points on our sleep quiz, you experience mild sleepiness that may not have gotten you into trouble yet, but you’re clearly cruising down the wrong road. Have you been gaining weight?

‘ If you tallied 12 to 15 points, we’re guessing that you get maybe five or six hours of sleep a night. You try to catch up on weekends, but Monday mornings are a bear. If there weren’t a Starbucks on the way to work, you’d be in deep trouble.

‘ If you tallied 16 to 24 points, you get so little sleep that you shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a car, balancing your checkbook or figuring out your income tax. You’re clearly not getting the rest you need.

Need help getting a good night’s sleep? Check out these tips:
‘ 7 ways to centre yourself and get more sleep
‘ 6 things that will help you sleep
‘ Eat to sleep better

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