Can Sleep Apnea be controlled by Physical Excercise?
Sleep apnea could be controlled and managed by regular physical exercise. I read it once but wonder if there is any research or study backed by evidences confirming this! Anybody has any idea?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sleepapnea_ed on
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There are numerous claims that vocal exercises and that playing the aboriginal wind instrument, the digeridoo can be used to improve one's sleep apnea. The problem isn't maintaining patency (rigidness) of the muscles and tissue around the opening to the upper airway while awake, but when you are asleep and in stage 3, 4 and REM when the muscles lose patency or in the case of REM the body becomes rigid and the obstructions occur.
Up to now, the only treatments that have had any success for moderate to severe OSA (in reverse order of effectiveness): UPPP, Oral Appliace, CPAP, Tracheostomy. All of these treatments either eliminate the excess tissue, move it out of the way or in the case of the Trach avoid the problem area all together.
There are alternate treatments under development now that seek to address the patency of the upper airway issue during sleep.
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Permalink Reply by Ellen S on -
What is UPPP? Isn't that the surgery option? Since it is left for almost a last option, could that be part of the reason it isn't seen as effective as the others?
So, why do you think playing these instruments may help, or do you disagree with the claims? Could conditioning the muscles, like other muscles of the body, have benefits beyond the scope of using them to make music? I'm thinking of it like abdominal exercises and back pain. Those muscles give support, even when we're not using them. As a result of having sufficient muscling in good condition, back pain can be helped or even eliminated for some people. Obviously this wouldn't be a viable treatment for all, but I'm wondering if there has ever been any research to this possibility?
Aside from that, I'm told losing weight can help some with apnea? Exercise that results in lower body fat and conditioned muscles is not only good for overall health, but in my hubby's case helped his snoring disappear.... several times actually, until the weight came back on and stayed. But I've also known quite skinny people to suffer severe apnea as well.
So many questions! It seems apnea is not only an important, but also complicated issue...
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