If you snore or struggle with obstructive sleep apnea, there’s good news from the International Journal of Research in Psychiatry: a simple activity can stop snoring and sleep apnea, improve sleep quality, and wipe out daytime sleepiness.
Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway collapses repeatedly during sleep, causing breathing pauses.
Snoring is often the first warning sign. Left unchecked, it can lead to constant fatigue, poor concentration, and higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, and more.
The standard treatment, CPAP, works well—but many abandon it due to discomfort or noise. That’s why researchers are exploring alternatives, and exercise is proving to be a powerful option.
In a review of 30 high-quality studies, participants of all ages, fitness levels, and body weights joined structured aerobic programs several times a week. Researchers tracked:
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● Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) — breathing pauses per hour
● Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) — daytime sleepiness rating
● Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) — overall sleep quality
Results were striking:
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● Breathing interruptions dropped from 28.6/hour to 17/hour.
● Daytime sleepiness scores fell from 13.6 to 7.2.
● Sleep quality improved across the board.
● Oxygen levels during sleep rose.
● Benefits occurred without major weight loss.
● 83.5% stuck with the program.
You don’t need extreme workouts—just 30 minutes of brisk walking, cycling, or swimming five days a week. The key is consistency, so partner up with a friend or join a group to stay on track.