Lifestyle modifications

NUTRITION

  • Alcohol: May worsen sleep apnea, disrupt sleep structure, and increase daytime sleepiness (2)

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

  • May modestly improve sleep apnea by itself, without weight loss, including AHI reduction, sleep efficiency, sleepiness (2)

SLEEP

  • Altered sleep position if it triggers sleep apnea. Avoid lying on the back, or in the supine position (2)

WEIGHT

  • Weight loss is advised for patients with sleep apnea who are overweight or obese (1, 2)
  • Effect: A 9-17% weight loss may decrease Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index by about 50% in people with sleep apnea (1)
  • May decrease daytime sleepiness (2)
  • Weight loss rarely causes total remission of symptoms (2)

References

1) https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/215/management-approach

2) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/obstructive-sleep-apnea-overview-of-management-in-adults

Resources

EXPLANATION TO EVIDENCE PRESENTATION

Figure: Evidence pyramid

​Evidence based on guidelines and evidence based Clinical Decision Systems is written in BOLD font

​Evidence based on meta analysis or systematic reviews is written in BOLD and CURSIVE font

​Evidence based on randomized controlled trials is written in PLAIN font

​Evidence based on observational / cohort studies is written in CURSIVE font