A suitablecombination of Mediterranean diet and physical exercisecan helprelieve some of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, a disorder that is characterized by abnormal interruptions of breathing or instants of an abnormally low respiratory rate during sleep. This disease affects 1 in 25 adults. Each cessation of breathing (apnea) can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and occur between 5 and 30 times, or even more, every hour.
The authors, researchers from the University of Crete (Greece), examined 40 obese individuals with sleep apnea. Half of them followed a “prudent” diet – low in fat – and the remaining twenty a Mediterranean diet. In addition, both groups were recommended to increase their physical activity, specifically to walk at least thirty minutes a day. In addition, the two groups underwent continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which consists of wearing a mask that generates an air stream and keeps the upper section of the airway open during sleep. Analyzing changes in sleep patterns at the beginning of the study and six months later with the help of polysomnography, the researchers found thatpatients who had followed the Mediterranean diet had experienced fewer apneas during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep. The conclusions are published in the journalEuropean Respiratory Journal
The Mediterranean diet is a diet rich invegetables, fresh fruit and olive oilas a main source of fat, as well as dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. It is also characterized by a low to moderate intake of fish, poultry and red meat, as well as a maximum of four eggs a week.
