We all know how using a CPAP machine can help you get a good night’s rest when you’re living with sleep apnea. But, if you still find yourself needing a few more Zs, it might be time to examine the amount of activity you’re getting during the day. It just might make a huge difference in how well you sleep!
If you are living with sleep apnea, you may have already had a talk with your doctor about adding more exercise to your routine. Indeed, the National Sleep Foundation calls a regular exercise program, “…one of the veritable 10-commandments of sleep.”
The Foundation did a study in which they traced people’s activity during the day and how well they slept at night. Interestingly enough, certain exercises had almost no impact on sleep quality, while others were shown to have a significant impact:
Vigorous aerobic activity:
This was described as running, heavy cycling, lifting weights, etc. These activities were shown to have little impact on the quality of sleep.
Moderate aerobic activity:
These were described as walking, swimming, yoga, tai chi, etc. Those who participated in these activities over a course of 4 to 24 weeks fell asleep quicker and had a better quality of sleep than the rest of those in the study.
No activity:
This category includes people who do not incorporate daily exercise into their lives. They were found to not have as good of a rest as those who participated in moderate exercise.
The study noted that we still have a lot to learn when it comes to exercise and sleep, but it would be worth it to experiment with different types of exercises to see if they help you.
CPAP Central wants you to be as healthy as possible, and exercise is a sure way to get on the road to better health! We carry a wide variety of BiPAP and CPAP supplies to ensure that sleep apnea does not rob you of a good night’s sleep.