Study Reveals How Exercise Can Prevent Sleep Apnea

It is well known that carrying extra weight is a risk factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – a common sleep disorder that causes pauses in breathing during sleep. Exercise is a great way to prevent many health problems, and is now shown to cut the risk of OSA by up to 31%.

A recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal looked at the exercise habits, daily sitting time and other health factors in 137,917 middle-aged and older adults over an 18 year period. With frequent intense exercise, such as 3-4 hours of running or mountain-bike riding a week, the risk of OSA was cut by 31%. They found that even moderate exercise can help to lower the risk of sleep apnea by 21% regardless of a person’s BMI. This included one hour a day of brisk exercise such as walking, lap swimming or bike riding.

Additionally, those who did the equivalent of about two to three hours of brisk exercise per week had a 14% lower risk of OSA and those who walked for two hours a week had a 10% lower risk of developing OSA.

Exercise can help to control weight, and may reduce inflammation and insulin resistance in the tissues of the upper airways – which could prevent them from collapsing in. If you are not already incorporating exercise into your daily routine, why not start today!

The CPAP Clinic has a network of 40 clinics nationwide, and works in partnership with Centurion Healthcare, a Respiratory & Sleep Specialist clinic group to provide comprehensive sleep care including:

1. Respiratory & Sleep Specialist consultation – face-to-face and telehealth available
2. Sleep studies – in-lab, home and contactless sleep studies available.

Bulk billing available for specialist telehealth consultations as well as sleep studies. Medicare criteria apply. Call 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au for more information.