Does Fitness Help With Sleep Apnea Or Chronic Insomnia?

If you suffer from sleep apnea or chronic insomnia, you might be on the lookout for just about any cure you could find. Neither of these issues is pleasant to live with, but they both affect a big portion of the population. There are some people who suggest that fitness can help reduce both of these issues, but it all depends on the kind of exercise you do and how you do them. Below are some suggestions for you to follow, based on your lifestyle and disorder.

Yoga is a very common suggestion for people who suffer from chronic insomnia. That is because yoga is a relaxing fitness routine that tones the body in a slow, calming manner. The results of this slow pace are relaxed muscles, which often equate in a relaxed train of thought. Being fit as a whole, however, may help a sleep apnea sufferer as well because breathing capabilities will open up with a better body. While the relaxing qualities of yoga may not do much, the bodily benefits may do wonders for opening passageways to reduce snoring. In conjunction with the yoga, you could try some meditation to calm your body and mind before bed.

Another theory suggests that working out before bed is a good idea because it tires your body out. It also loosens the muscles, which makes falling to sleep a lot easier. The problem with that theory is that an increased amount of activity will also lead to heavier breathing and a higher pulse. Both of these are enemies for chronic insomniacs and snorers. It may be fine to work out earlier in the day, but avoid doing that right before you go to sleep. Instead, take a relaxing bath and read a book to take your mind off the rest of the day.

sakiraa1 wrote: Another theory suggests that working out before bed is a good idea because it tires your body out. It also loosens the muscles, which makes falling to sleep a lot easier. The problem with that theory is that an increased amount of activity will also lead to heavier breathing and a higher pulse.

Terrible theory - unless you're acclimated to working out routinely in the evening, it will in fact keep you up for a few hours and you might not fall asleep until early hours of the morning.

I've been swimming laps for past 35yrs, and routinely at 8 pm nightly. If I go beyond 30 minutes, and not at a leisurely pace, I can't fall asleep until at least 1 am. Back in grad school days, I actually intentionally would swim for 60 minutes - fast pace - at night in order to refresh myself and keep me up with caffeine, etc -- to study into the wee hours.

But exercise is good for you...if done at the proper time, you do sleep better at night.

Just noticed every post by sakiraa1 is generic "advice" and a google search showed a gazillion forums they have joined. And the ones that hadn't already deleted the posts had generic advice posts like these. I'm not easily "had" but I think this time I've been had. But was fun thinking about porch sleeping. I'll post this on the other 4 threads.
Kathy
P.S. In asking myself "WHY?" I noticed a link at the bottom of their posts, but don't trust my virus protection enough to click it.