About Sleep
A good night of sleep is very important to our overall health and to our ability to function effectively throughout the day. When our lives become busy, sleep becomes less of a priority for many of us. However, just as proper nutrition and plenty of exercise are essential for good health, so is quality sleep.
One of the keys to obtaining a quality sleep is normal breathing during sleep. As you breathe, air passes through the airway, moving past the structures in the nose, mouth and throat. While you are awake, those structures usually provide an open airway so you can breathe easily. During sleep, however, these structures relax. For non-snorers, the airway always stays open in spite of the muscles relaxing and the air moves freely into the lungs. For snorers, this is not the case and the airway can become blocked or partially blocked. This can lead to snoring or sleep apnea which has a significant negative effect on good sleep.
