FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) -- Sleep is a big factor in your overall health, according to one local expert.

“Sleep is the foundation of your health,” says Dr. Esbel Holden of the Lung Center of Florence. He works closely with North Alabama Medical Center and Helen Keller Hospital.

It's a key part of your everyday routine.

“7-8 hours, it turns out that’s optimal for your sleep health. With that, our brains go through certain stages and cycles of sleep; we all do it every night, and it turns out that 7-8 hour intervals are ideal for you completing those cycles of sleep to help you feel rested,” Dr. Holden said.

But getting good sleep is more important, and if you are not getting good sleep, you may have an underlying sleep disorder, according to Dr. Holden.

Some symptoms of sleep disorders in

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