Do you struggle to get the quality sleep you need at night due to sleep apnea? This common sleep disorder affects anywhere from 15% to 30% of men and 10% to 15% of women. Because obesity is one of the major risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea, you may be wondering if exercising can help to treat the disorder itself. Continue reading to learn more about how exercise can help you achieve higher quality sleep.
How Can Exercise Help with Sleep Apnea?
When you get plenty of exercise, you can reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. This is because exercise can result in multiple positive outcomes. They include:
- Weight loss
- Improved cognitive function
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Reduced daytime sleepiness
- Reduces the number of lapses in breathing
How Can Weight Loss Improve Sleep Apnea?
Losing weight is tied to a reduction in symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness. This is especially the case for those who have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Having excess weight puts additional pressure on the airway, including your likelihood of experiencing ceases in breathing throughout the night. If you have sleep apnea and you are overweight, it is recommended to get plenty of exercise and maintain a healthy diet to work towards a healthy weight. Some people even see their symptoms go away all together.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
While taking steps at home is a great way to improve your overall health and potentially improve your sleep apnea, it’s still crucial that you see a professional if you are experiencing symptoms. To receive a formal diagnosis and get the treatment you need, you must schedule an appointment with a professional and undergo a sleep test. Depending on the results and the severity, a treatment plan can be put together for you to manage your symptoms and help you achieve deeper, quality sleep. Here are some of the more common sleep apnea treatment options available:
- CPAP Therapy: CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. This treatment involves wearing a mask over your nose and/or mouth. The mask is attached to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air, keeping your airway open throughout the night.
- Oral Appliance Therapy: An oral appliance is a customized orthotic device that it worn in the mouth during sleep. It works by keeping the jaw in its optimum position to prevent the airway from collapsing and causing cessations in breathing.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, you should seek help from a professional. This way, you can work toward getting the treatment you need to sleep soundly at night and thrive during the day!
About the Practice
At Star Sleep & Wellness in Irving, we have a team of multiple board-certified sleep physicians as well as a licensed psychologist. It is our goal to help all of our patients to get the restful night of sleep they deserve. If you’re struggling to get the quality sleep you need throughout the night, we’d be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (469) 331-9629.