Exercise can Eliminate Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep apnea not only causes you to wake up frequently throughout the night, but it also can make you feel groggy during the day. It impacts your work, social life, and mood as well. At least 22 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and an estimated 80% of cases go misdiagnosed.
While many treatments for sleep apnea exists, fitness is a solution that is free and available to every patient. Exercise is an effective way to eliminate symptoms of sleep apnea while improving one’s quality of life as well.
5 Benefits of Exercise for Sleep Apnea Patients
Exercising regularly has been proven to be highly beneficial for sleep apnea patients. A study published in Brazil proved a strong correlation between exercising and sleep apnea. After evaluating dozens of sleep apnea patients, they found that daily exercise resulted in multiple benefits. The study also found that exercise was an excellent way to curb obesity, which is a common problem among sleep apnea sufferers, and provides the following advantages:
1. Increased Muscle Tone in the Upper Airway
2. Increases in Slow Wave Sleep
3. Reduced Daytime Sleepiness
4. Reduced Severity of OSA Symptoms
5. Reduced Fluid-Accumulation in the Neck
How to Start Implementing Exercise in Your Daily Routine
There are many ways for people to implement exercise into their routines. Exercise can be customized to fit your fitness level, body type, and even budget.
Part of exercising is simply getting your body moving, and there are multiple ways to exercise for free. Going on daily walks, hiking with friends, and following online exercise videos are all free and effective forms of exercise.
If you want to take your exercise routine up a notch, try these activities:
- Hire a coach or personal trainer
- Join a local gym
- Purchase fitness equipment for your home
- Sign up for yoga, martial arts, or cycling classes
- Join a recreational sports team
Results Require Commitment
Whether you do it to gain extra energy, lose weight, or for any other reason, living an active lifestyle is the best way you can fight sleep apnea. You might not notice results after only exercising once or twice, which is why it’s important to regularly move your body and commit to a routine. Finding an accountability partner is a great way to keep up with your exercise routine and achieve faster results.
If you need additional support for overcoming your sleep apnea, Dr. Regina M. Dailey and her team Ann Arbor, MI are ready to help.