Light Physical Activity May Lower Sleep Apnea Risk, Study Says

About 29 million American adults, which is about 12% of the adult population, have sleep apnea. The condition is characterized by a constant start-stop breathing pattern, which can disrupt sleep and cause snoring, headaches, or mood changes.1 Certain lifestyle changes have been shown to reduce the effects of sleep apnea, and a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine says increased exercise is one of them.

To determine whether there was a connection between sleep quality and physical activity, researchers analyzed 155,448 adults who were 46 years old on average—making this the largest study of its kind, to date. Pulling data from the Ontario Health study, researchers looked specifically at the lifestyle, medical, socio-demographic, and sleep patterns of each participant. 

According to the research, nearly 7% of participants had been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Those who fell into that group were also more likely to lead more sedentary lifestyles than those without. 

When comparing the activity levels between the two groups, researchers determined that even minor increases in physical activity levels helped with the sleep disorder. In fact, just a 10% increase in movements, like walking, lowered the risks of developing sleep apnea. 

"Our results highlight the importance of physical activity as a preventive measure against developing sleep apnea," senior author of the study Lyle Palmer, Ph.D., says in a news release. "One surprising finding was that not only vigorous physical activity but also just walking alone was associated with a decreased risk of sleep apnea."

"The rates of sleep apnea in children and adults are continuing to rise. Therefore, understanding the role of modifiable protective factors for sleep apnea is important," Palmer says. "Exercise is one such protective factor and has many other positive effects on general health."