Transtheoretical Model Published In The JCSM May Help To Identify OSA Patients' Level Of Intention To Exercise

Technobabble alert! Words, like "transtheoretical," are used to con you.

"Research has shown a strong relationship between weight and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Your neck gets thicker as you gain weight. This increases the level of fat in the back of the throat, making your airway more likely to be blocked. Because exercise reduces body weight, it has been suggested as a potential intervention for mild to moderate OSA. In an effort to answer the question as to how ready OSA patients are to engage in exercise, a study published in the December 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM) features the Stages of Change, a construct of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change."

"Exercise" is a clear way to fail at reducing body weight.

"According to Dr. Smith, standard medical approaches to managing OSA, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), can be effective for patients with moderate to severe disease. However, for patients with mild sleep apnea, for those who have trouble using CPAP, or for those who would like to take charge of their own health, increasing exercise and reducing body mass may be one practical route, added Dr. Smith."

Not in a million years.