If you are at all familiar with sleep apnea, you may already know that having sleep apnea can affect you not just during sleeping hours, but during waking hours too. In fact, sleep apnea can cause or contribute to many comorbid conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It can also cause depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.In addition to contributing to these dangerous conditions, sleep apnea can cause lethargy which may lead to a sedentary lifestyle. This can of course cause a “vicious cycle” where the person with sleep apnea gains weight because they are inactive, and the excess weight in turn worsens the sleep apnea.
A new study by researchers at the Washington University Sleep Center in St. Louis, Missouri that appeared in Medscape Medical News found that not only does sleep apnea cause a sedentary lifestyle- simply just snoring can cause a sedentary lifestyle, too. In fact, in the study, those who snored were found to spend 36 more minutes a day sedentary than those who did not snore, while those with sleep apnea were found to be sedentary 54 more minutes per day than those without sleep apnea.This could be because those who snore, along with those with sleep apnea, do not get a restful night’s sleep, and in turn lack the energy during the day to be as active as their non-snoring, apnea-free counterparts.The study came as a surprise to some, as lethargy during the day is usually attributed to sleep apnea patients, not just those who simply snore.
The good news is that just because you snore doesn’t mean you have sleep apnea, however the bad news is that those who snore and those with sleep apnea need to be aware of their conditions so they can counterbalance with physical activity, no matter how tired they feel during waking hours.If you or your partner snore, it’s always a good idea to speak to your physician, a sleep specialist, or Dr. Peterson about a solution. Dr. Peterson offers sleep orthotic devices in his clinic that can get you the results you want for a restful night’s sleep, helping to eliminate daytime lethargy and get you back to feeling great again!
