Of all the things necessary for a good, healthy life, there are some very basic necessities that absolutely cannot be overlooked. Without food, water, air and sleep, and human body just will not function. Without air we will only last a few minutes. Without water, only a few days. Without food, maybe a few weeks. But sleep remains a mystery to most. We sleep on a regular basis, but unlike the other elements, the qualify of our sleep is something we tend to overlook.

Medical science is still in it’s infancy when it comes to really understanding the quality and the actual need for sleep. Food, air, and water are easily broken down into their chemical components, and they are understood to a high degree by medical science. But sleep is still being studied.

We know that there are different phases of sleep that we go through each night. It’s generally accepted that there are four phases, the most widely know being REM when dreaming occurs. Even dreams, why we dream, and what impact they have on mental and physical health is still hotly contested among scientists.

There is no shortage of factors that can interfere with a good nights sleep. Noise, alcohol, eating too much too soon to bedtime can all have a damaging effect. One condition that is a growing concern amount doctors is sleep apnea. This is when you stop breathing, for whatever reason, while you are sleeping. Because this happens at night, you don’t usually remember it the next day. Other common apnea symptoms are often overlooked, as they are easy to confuse with common ailments like headaches and general drowsiness during the day.

One recommended way to check to see if you have sleep apnea is to keep a sleep journal. Simply write down as much information as you can as soon as you wake up. How long you slept, how often you woke during the night, how many times you woke up to urinate. This information can be very helpful should you need to visit your physician. The more data you present, the easier it will be for them to diagnose your problem.

Although sleep apnea can have very dangerous side effects, it can easily be treated. Which is all the more reason you should take steps today, so that you can get a good nights rest tomorrow.

If you think you suffer from apnea symptoms, visit the sleep apnea symptoms information page today.