Everyone knows that a good night’s sleep is essential for your mind and body, but are you aware of what exactly happens while you’re slumbering? Every night, your body goes through what’s known as the sleep cycle, which consists of multiple stages. You need to spend a sufficient amount of time in each part of the cycle in order to get the full benefits of a good night’s sleep. Below is a closer look at the different stages of the sleep cycle – as well as what can happen if they’re interrupted by sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder that, if not treated quickly enough, could potentially put your life in danger. It’s important to act quickly to address your sleep apnea symptoms – but at the same time, you need to be careful to avoid doing anything that could make the situation even more dire. Are you trying to manage sleep apnea? Be sure to take note of the following 4 factors that could make it worse.