Snorers should blow a conch shell to reduce breathing problems at night, say boffins
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BLOWING through a conch shell for 15 minutes, five days a week, could reduce snoring, according to research.
The exercise made people more alert during the day, with fewer breathing problems at night.
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The team in India tested 30 people aged 19 to 65 with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) which blocks the airways and causes snoring.
Those who did shell blowing for six months were 34 per cent less sleepy during the day and slept better than those who practised deep breathing exercises.
The standard treatment for OSA is a CPAP machine that keeps a patient's airway open by blowing air through a heavy-duty mask all night.
Researchers said a conch — also known as a shankh — is a simple, low-cost intervention that could help reduce symptoms without the machines.
Conch-blowing was also linked to higher levels of oxygen in patients' blood during the night, the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, found.
Lead researcher Dr Krishna Sharma said: 'The way the shankh is blown is distinctive.
'The deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance.
'It likely strengthens throat and soft palate muscles — areas that collapse during sleep in people with OSA.'
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