Along with diet and exercise, quality sleep is one of the most important aspects of your overall health. When you don’t sleep well, you increase your risk of experiencing an accident or developing a serious health condition. If you wake in the morning not feeling rested or if you find yourself sleepy during the day, you may be suffering from a common sleep condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes patients to stop breathing for a short time due to the tongue blocking the airway and causing an obstruction. Each time you stop breathing, due to lack of oxygen, your brain is alerted to the disruption, causing you to wake. This process typically continues during your entire sleep period, whether you’re taking a nap or sleeping at night.