Proper sleep, in addition to adequate nutrition is essential for health. The symptoms of sleep disorders, such as chronic insomnia, snoring, sleep apnea, fragmented sleep and daytime sleepiness are common and often ignored. According to the National Sleep Disorders Research Center, only five percent of these sleep ailments are successfully diagnosed and treated. The problem stems from the lack of public knowledge about what comprises a sleep disorder.

Most people are unaware that sleep ailments can be associated with serious medical conditions. In fact, sleep apnea (often indicated by snoring), a condition causing patients to stop breathing during sleep, is associated with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Common ailments such as insomnia, if chronic and left untreated, can lead to depression and daytime sleepiness, which contribute to motor vehicle accidents.

Fortunately, sleep disorders are diagnosable and treatable.