Among the many well-known benefits of exercising regularly, improving the overall quality of your sleep might be one of the most significant ones. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, or other issues that affect your sleep, then sticking to a regular exercise schedule could help reduce or eliminate symptoms that stop you from sleeping properly. Today, we take a look at why, and offer a few tips to avoid overdoing it and negatively impacting your sleep cycle, instead.
The Connection Between Exercise and Sleep
There are many studies that show exercise can be a great way to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm. While the exact mechanisms of how exercise improves sleep are still largely unknown, experts believe that several reasons may include better hormone regulation, stress relief, and muscle reaction, as well as decreased levels of body fat. Each of these can be a risk factor in issues such as sleep apnea, and improving them with regular exercise can reduce those risks.
Tips from Your Sleep Expert
The trick about regular exercise is that too much of it can be detrimental to your health. If you push yourself too hard too often, you might suffer from an injury or symptoms of exhaustion. You might also interrupt your sleep cycle, especially if you work out late in the day. To help make the most of your exercise routine, be sure to stick to these tips:
- Don’t overdo it. The most beneficial exercise is moderate anaerobic, strength training, and/or yoga exercises that help build lean muscle. Extreme forms of any exercise could cause more harm than good.
- Don’t work out before bed. When you exercise, every part of your body wakes up and needs time to cool back down. If you work out too late, then you can lose valuable rest waiting to calm down enough to fall asleep.
Learn More About Improving Your Quality of Sleep
In addition to exercising regularly and eating healthy, improving your quality of sleep may require a professional assessment and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. To learn more, call Houston Sleep Solutions in Spring, TX, at (281) 320-2000, or in Pearland, TX, at (832) 564-3508.