Tim Ferris, Michael Phelps, ADHD, & Sleep Apnea

March 21, 2011

I wrote in my last post about how creativity can be linked to ADHD, mainly due to inefficient sleep from breathing problems at night. ADHD can also be linked to tremendous achievements in sports or physical activities. People who don’t sleep efficiently will take measures during the day to compensate for their inability to stay focused or stay awake. Some people drink lots of coffee. Others exercise like crazy. Some even become olympic swimming or ballroom dancing champions.

I’ve written before about how Michael Phelps, the olympic swimming champion, has a major malocclusion, and seems to be a mouth breather. It’s well documented in the papers that he had ADHD as a child. Swimming is a great way to not only stay active, but also has a calming, relaxing property that’s almost like doing deep-breathing meditation exercises. Swimming forces you to take slow, rhythmic breaths. His mother has known hypertension, and being clearly overweight, it’s likely that she has obstructive sleep apnea. Many long distance runners feel alive only when they’re running. It’s shocking how often people who are addicted to endurance sports can’t or prefer not to sleep on their backs.

Even with Tim Ferris, best-selling author of The 4-Hour Work-Week, in his new book, The 4-Hour Body, he describes how he and his entire family have major insomnia. He even recommends sleeping on your stomach, which is what he most likely prefers due to his jaw anatomy. He’s excelled in almost every physical activity, from running to swimming, to body-buiding, and even ballroom dancing. I do enjoy reading his books, but I have to admit that his writing style is definitely scattered, in the stereotypical style that’s typical for ADHD.

Problems can arise if you get injured or are forced to sleep on your back for some reason (an injury or surgery). Poor sleep quality can promote rapid weight gain, and then it’s really difficult to take off, especially since you’re not sleeping well, and you’re not able to exercise at your normal levels. Time and time again, people with these issues tell me that they get really down and depressed even if they miss a few workouts.

I know many of you reading this have this condition. Do you agree or disagree?

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | 1 Comment

Sleep Apnea, Michael Phelps & Swimming Records

November 20, 2008

This may just be coincidence, but on an online forum for sleep apnea sufferers, a member commented that he could hold his breath the longest while swimming when he was in the military. Shortly thereafter, two others replied with similar experiences when they were children. As we know, sleep apnea is not something that develops all of a sudden at a certain age when you reach a certain age. If you have sleep apnea, you’ve had some degree of it since you were an infant. So if you have episodic breath holding spells while sleeping when young, it makes sense that your capacity to utilize oxygen is enhanced, similar to what occurs when elite athletes train in higher altitudes to acclimate to lower oxygen levels.

This brings us to Michael Phelps. He seems to always surge ahead when he’s swimming underwater just after the turns. Next time, look at his narrow jaws and malocclusion. Could he have a sleep-breathing problem? Look at his mother.

Is there anyone reading this post who has sleep apnea with a similar story?

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | 8 Comments