Medical Disclaimer
SmartSleepCalc.com provides sleep science calculators and educational content for informational purposes only. This page explains the scope and limitations of our tools, your responsibilities as a user, and when to seek professional medical care.
Educational Only
All content and tools are for informational and educational purposes only.
Not Medical Advice
Nothing here constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or a treatment plan.
Screening ≠ Diagnosis
Our validated questionnaires screen for risk — only a doctor can diagnose.
Always See a Doctor
Consult a qualified healthcare provider before acting on any results.
Not Medical Advice or Diagnosis
SmartSleepCalc.com is an educational website that provides sleep-related calculators and information. All content — including calculators, articles, and assessments — is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation.
- Medical advice — we do not provide personalised medical recommendations
- Professional diagnosis — our assessments cannot diagnose sleep disorders or medical conditions
- Treatment plans — results do not constitute treatment recommendations from healthcare providers
- Emergency services — we do not provide urgent or emergency medical assistance
- Prescription guidance — we do not recommend, prescribe, or advise on medications
Always Consult a Healthcare Professional
Before making any health decisions based on information from our website, always consult a qualified healthcare provider. This includes but is not limited to:
- Starting or stopping medications (including over-the-counter sleep aids)
- Changing sleep schedules if you have medical conditions
- Interpreting assessment results from our calculators (PSQI, ISI, STOP-BANG)
- Implementing treatment recommendations suggested by our tools
- Addressing chronic sleep problems lasting more than 2–4 weeks
- Managing sleep issues related to mental health, pregnancy, or medical conditions
Board-certified in sleep disorders
Family doctors, internists
Sleep-related mental health issues
Trained in CBT-I or sleep therapy
Sleep apnea and breathing disorders
Children’s and infant sleep issues
Our Calculators Are Screening Tools Only
SmartSleepCalc.com provides validated screening questionnaires and calculators based on established research. Screening ≠ Diagnosis.
| Tool | What It Measures | What High Scores Mean | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSQI Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index | Sleep quality over 1 month | Scores >5 suggest poor sleep quality — requires professional evaluation | NOT a diagnosis |
| ISI Insomnia Severity Index | Insomnia symptom severity | High scores indicate need for clinical assessment | NOT a diagnosis |
| STOP-BANG | Sleep apnea risk factors | High scores warrant a formal sleep study (polysomnography) | NOT a diagnosis |
| Chronotype Quiz | Natural sleep-wake preference | Results are descriptive only | Descriptive |
| Sleep Cycle Calculator | Optimal bedtimes via 90-min cycles | General population-average guidance only | General Guidance |
Accuracy and Reliability
While we strive for accuracy using validated questionnaires and peer-reviewed research, we make no guarantees or warranties regarding:
- Accuracy of results — calculator outputs depend on the accuracy of your self-reported input
- Completeness — content may not cover all aspects of sleep disorders or individual circumstances
- Suitability — general information may not apply to your specific health situation
- Currency — medical research evolves continuously; content may become outdated between review cycles
- Technical errors — software bugs or calculation errors may occur despite thorough testing
- Self-report bias — results depend entirely on honest, accurate self-assessment
- Memory limitations — questions about “the past month” rely on subjective recall
- Cultural differences — sleep norms vary significantly across cultures and age groups
- Comorbid conditions — multiple health issues may affect the interpretation of results
- No objective measurement — our tools do not measure actual sleep (unlike clinical sleep studies or actigraphy)
Not a Substitute for Professional Medical Care
SmartSleepCalc.com does not provide:
- Doctor-patient relationships — using our site does not create any professional relationship with a healthcare provider
- Personalised treatment plans — our recommendations are based on population averages, not your individual medical history
- Prescription medications — we cannot prescribe, recommend dosages, or advise on medication management
- Medical monitoring — we do not track your health status or provide follow-up care
- Emergency assistance — we are not equipped to handle medical emergencies
- Second opinions — our tools cannot confirm or refute professional medical diagnoses
Medical Emergencies
Call 911 (USA) or your local emergency number immediately.
DO NOT rely on this website for emergency medical assistance. Close this page and call emergency services.
- Severe breathing difficulties during sleep (gasping, choking, long pauses between breaths)
- Chest pain or pressure associated with sleep problems
- Suicidal thoughts related to sleep deprivation or insomnia — call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, USA)
- Sudden onset of extreme sleepiness (narcolepsy-like symptoms)
- Violent behaviours during sleep (possible REM behaviour disorder)
- Severe hallucinations related to sleep deprivation
- Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) experienced during or around sleep
- Sleep apnea screening (STOP-BANG) indicates high risk
- Insomnia symptoms (ISI) indicate severe insomnia (score ≥ 22)
- Sleep quality (PSQI) indicates severe disturbance (score ≥ 16)
- New or worsening daytime sleepiness affecting safety (driving, operating machinery)
- Chronic sleep problems lasting more than 3 months
Children, Pregnancy & Special Populations
Most of our calculators are designed for adults (18+). Children and adolescents have different sleep needs, patterns, and disorders. Always consult a paediatrician or paediatric sleep specialist for children’s sleep issues. Our Baby Nap Calculator provides general age-range guidance only — it is not a substitute for paediatric advice.
Sleep changes dramatically during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Our calculators do not account for pregnancy-related sleep disturbances, hormonal changes, or postpartum conditions such as postpartum depression. Consult your OB-GYN or midwife before making sleep-related decisions during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
- Elderly (65+) — higher risk of sleep disorders; medical supervision is essential
- Chronic illness — heart disease, diabetes, COPD, and kidney disease all affect sleep
- Mental health conditions — depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder require integrated treatment
- Shift workers — circadian rhythm disruption needs specialised medical management
- Medication users — many prescription and over-the-counter drugs significantly affect sleep architecture; consult your prescribing doctor
No Guarantee of Results
We make no guarantees, warranties, or promises regarding:
- Improvement in sleep quality from following our recommendations or suggested bedtimes
- Accuracy of sleep cycle predictions or chronotype assessments for your individual biology
- Resolution of sleep problems through sleep hygiene suggestions provided on this site
- Prevention of health consequences related to poor sleep
- Success rate of any techniques, schedules, or strategies mentioned in our content
Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure
This website is supported by two revenue sources that help us provide all tools and content for free. Neither source influences our medical content, tool designs, or health recommendations.
This site displays advertisements served by Google AdSense. These ads are selected automatically by Google based on page content and, where you have consented, your browsing preferences. We do not control or endorse the specific products, services, or health claims made in any advertisement. No advertisement displayed on this site should be interpreted as a medical recommendation from SmartSleepCalc.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some articles may contain affiliate links to products on Amazon.com. When you click a link and make a qualifying purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All affiliate links are clearly labelled with (paid link) or #ad. Product recommendations are included for informational convenience only and do not constitute medical endorsement of any product.
Third-Party Links & Resources
SmartSleepCalc.com may contain links to third-party websites, published research studies, professional organisations, or products for your convenience. We do not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for:
- Content accuracy on external websites
- Privacy practices of third-party sites
- Products or services advertised or sold by third parties
- Medical advice or health claims provided on any linked website
Use third-party resources at your own risk and always verify health information with a qualified healthcare professional.
Updates to This Disclaimer
We reserve the right to update this medical disclaimer at any time without prior notice to reflect changes in our tools, services, legal requirements, or medical best practices. Changes take effect immediately upon publication. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
Your continued use of SmartSleepCalc.com after any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised disclaimer. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:
- SmartSleepCalc.com, its owners, operators, contributors, reviewers, and affiliates are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of our website or calculators
- This includes but is not limited to: misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, adverse health outcomes, medication errors, or any harm resulting from reliance on our content
- We are not responsible for technical errors, calculation mistakes, or inaccuracies in content
- We are not responsible for the content of Google AdSense advertisements or Amazon products linked from this site
- You assume full responsibility for any decisions made based on information from SmartSleepCalc.com
No Professional Credentials or Licensing
SmartSleepCalc.com is operated by sleep science educators and web developers. Our content is researched from published scientific literature and reviewed by contracted sleep health consultants. However, we are not a licensed medical practice and we do not claim to hold:
- Medical degrees (MD, DO) as an organisation
- Sleep medicine board certification at an organisational level
- Psychology or psychiatry practice licences
- Professional liability insurance for the provision of medical advice
Contact Us
If you have questions about this medical disclaimer, our editorial policies, or want to report inaccurate content, please contact us. Please note that we cannot provide medical advice via email — for health concerns, always consult a qualified healthcare provider.
Effective: November 15, 2025 · Last Updated: May 30, 2026 · Reviewed by: Dr. Sarah Mitchell, CCSH
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site also uses Google AdSense advertising. Neither relationship influences our medical content.