Latest news with #EternalHeartCareCentreandResearchInstitute
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ancient ritual of blowing into shell ‘could help with common sleep disorder'
An ancient ritual which involves blowing into a large shell could tackle the symptoms of a common sleep disorder, a study suggests. The practice of conch blowing, also known as shankh blowing, could improve sleep for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) without the need for uncomfortable machinery, according to researchers. Shankh blowing involves breathing in deeply before exhaling forcefully into a conch, the spiral-shaped shell from a species of sea snail. The small trial, led by researchers in India, involved 30 people aged with 19 and 65 with OSA. OSA happens with the walls of the throat relax and narrow or close, with symptoms including choking noises, loud snoring and waking up a lot. The condition is thought to impact about eight million people in the UK. For the trial, 16 people were provided with a traditional shankh used in yogic practices and trained in how to use it properly before taking it home, while the remaining 14 people were asked to carry out deep breathing exercises. Both groups were encouraged to practice for a minimum of 15 minutes five days a week. They were monitored during sleep and asked questions about sleep quality and how tired they felt during the day. After six months, the study found those who practised shankh blowing reported sleeping better and were 34% less sleepy during the day. They also had higher levels of oxygen in the blood during the night and had four to five fewer apnoeas, where breathing stops during sleep, per hour on average. They also had higher levels of oxygen in their blood during the night. Dr Krishna K Sharma, of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, said: 'The way the shankh is blown is quite distinctive. 'It involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips. 'This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate, areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA. 'The shankh's unique spiralling structure may also contribute to specific acoustic and mechanical effects that further stimulate and tone these muscles.' Continuous positive airway pressure (Cpap) machines are the first line of treatment for OSA. They involve patients wearing a mask that blows pressurised air into the nose and throat while they sleep. However, they can be uncomfortable. Speaking of Cpap, Dr Sharma said: 'While effective, many patients find it uncomfortable and struggle to use it consistently.' He suggests shankh blowing could be a 'promising alternative'. 'Shankh blowing is a simple low-cost, breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication,' Dr Sharma said. Researchers are now planning a larger trial involving several hospitals. Dr Sharma added: 'This next phase will allow us to validate and expand on our findings in a broader, more diverse population and assess how shankh blowing performs over longer periods. 'We also want to study how this practice affects airway muscle tone, oxygen levels and sleep in greater detail. 'We're particularly interested in comparing shankh blowing with standard treatments like Cpap, and in examining its potential help in more severe forms of OSA.' Reacting to the findings, Professor Sophia Schiza, head of the ERS group on sleep disordered breathing, based at the University of Crete, Greece, said: 'We know that OSA patients have poor quality of sleep, and higher risks of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease. 'A proportion of patients experience sleepiness during the day. 'While Cpap and other treatments are available based on careful diagnosis of disease severity, there is still need for new treatments. 'This is an intriguing study that shows the ancient practice of shankh blowing could potentially offer an OSA treatment for selected patients by targeting muscles training. 'A larger study will help provide more evidence for this intervention which could be of benefit as a treatment option or in combination with other treatments in selected OSA patients.'
Gulf Today
7 hours ago
- Health
- Gulf Today
Ancient ritual that could help improve your sleep
Storm Newton, The Independent An ancient ritual involving the forceful blowing of a conch shell could offer a surprising, non-invasive treatment for a widespread sleep disorder, according to new research. Known as shankh blowing, the practice involves a deep inhalation followed by a powerful exhalation into the spiral-shaped shell of a sea snail. Researchers suggest this technique could significantly improve sleep for individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), potentially negating the need for cumbersome medical equipment. Obstructive sleep apnoea, which affects an estimated eight million people in the UK, occurs when the throat muscles relax and narrow during sleep, leading to symptoms such as loud snoring, choking noises, and frequent awakenings. The findings stem from a small trial conducted in India, involving 30 participants aged between 19 and 65, all diagnosed with OSA. For the trial, 16 people were provided with a traditional shankh used in yogic practices and trained in how to use it properly before taking it home, while the remaining 14 people were asked to carry out deep breathing exercises. Both groups were encouraged to practice for a minimum of 15 minutes five days a week. They were monitored during sleep and asked questions about sleep quality and how tired they felt during the day. After six months, the study found those who practised shankh blowing reported sleeping better and were 34 per cent less sleepy during the day. They also had higher levels of oxygen in the blood during the night and had four to five fewer apnoeas, where breathing stops during sleep, per hour on average. They also had higher levels of oxygen in their blood during the night. Dr Krishna K Sharma, of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, said: "The way the shankh is blown is quite distinctive. "It involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips. "This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate, areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA. "The shankh's unique spiralling structure may also contribute to specific acoustic and mechanical effects that further stimulate and tone these muscles." Continuous positive airway pressure (Cpap) machines are the first line of treatment for OSA. They involve patients wearing a mask that blows pressurised air into the nose and throat while they sleep. However, they can be uncomfortable. Speaking of Cpap, Dr Sharma said: "While effective, many patients find it uncomfortable and struggle to use it consistently." He suggests shankh blowing could be a "promising alternative". "Shankh blowing is a simple low-cost, breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication," Dr Sharma said. Researchers are now planning a larger trial involving several hospitals. Dr Sharma added: "This next phase will allow us to validate and expand on our findings in a broader, more diverse population and assess how shankh blowing performs over longer periods. "We also want to study how this practice affects airway muscle tone, oxygen levels and sleep in greater detail. "We're particularly interested in comparing shankh blowing with standard treatments like Cpap, and in examining its potential help in more severe forms of OSA." Reacting to the findings, Professor Sophia Schiza, head of the ERS group on sleep disordered breathing, based at the University of Crete, Greece, said: "We know that OSA patients have poor quality of sleep, and higher risks of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease. "A proportion of patients experience sleepiness during the day. "While Cpap and other treatments are available based on careful diagnosis of disease severity, there is still need for new treatments. "This is an intriguing study that shows the ancient practice of shankh blowing could potentially offer an OSA treatment for selected patients by targeting muscles training. 'A larger study will help provide more evidence for this intervention which could be of benefit as a treatment option or in combination with other treatments in selected OSA patients.'
New York Post
8 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Ancient Indian seashell trick can help with sleep apnea: study
Shell shock! Nearly 54 million US adults are believed to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when muscles in your throat relax and repeatedly block your airway, causing you to stop breathing as you sleep. Besides disrupted sleep and snoring, OSA can raise the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and car crashes. Advertisement 4 Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when muscles in your throat relax and repeatedly block your airway, causing you to stop breathing as you sleep. A CPAP machine (seen here) is a common treatment. Hope – 'The standard treatment for OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, which keeps the patient's airway open by blowing air through a facemask throughout the night,' said Dr. Krishna K. Sharma from the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India. 'While effective, many patients find it uncomfortable and struggle to use it consistently.' Advertisement Sharma is conch-fident that an ancient Indian practice known as shankh blowing can ease OSA symptoms without the hassle of a costly machine. He led a small study that reported that OSA patients who regularly blew into a conch for six months had fewer breathing interruptions at night and more alertness during the day. 4 The theory is that shankh blowing strengthens muscles crucial to maintaining an open airway during sleep. Kitreel – 'In my clinical practice, several patients reported feeling more rested and experiencing fewer symptoms after regularly practicing shankh blowing — a traditional yogic breathing exercise involving exhaling through a conch shell,' Sharma said. Advertisement 'These observations led us to design a scientific study to rigorously test whether this simple, ancient practice could serve as a meaningful therapy for people with OSA.' Thirty people between 19 and 65 years old were divided into two groups — 16 blew through a conch shell while 14 engaged in a deep breathing exercise. The conch group underwent training and daily practice sessions at home before the study commenced. Advertisement Eternal Heart tracked the participants, who had moderate OSA, from May 2022 to January 2024. They were monitored while sleeping and asked about their sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. After six months, the conch group was 34% less sleepy during the daytime than the deep breathing group. 4 The conch group experienced better sleep than the deep breathing group, the study found. weyo – Medical testing showed that the conch group participants had an average of four or five fewer episodes where their breathing stopped during sleep. They also had higher levels of oxygen in their blood at night. The conch-lusions were published this week in the ERJ Open Research journal. 'For people living with OSA, especially those who find CPAP uncomfortable, unaffordable or inaccessible, our findings offer a promising alternative,' Sharma said. Advertisement 'Shankh blowing is a simple, low-cost breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication.' Blowing shankhs can cost anywhere from $20 to over $100. The theory is that shankh blowing strengthens muscles crucial to maintaining an open airway during sleep. Dr. Sophia Schiza — a professor of respiratory and sleep medicine at the University of Crete in Greece and head of the European Respiratory Society group on sleep-disordered breathing — called it an 'intriguing study.' Advertisement 4 Further studies are planned to explore the effectiveness of shankh blowing. robcartorres – 'A larger study will help provide more evidence for this intervention, which could be of benefit as a treatment option or in combination with other treatments in selected OSA patients,' said Schiza, who was not involved in this research. Sharma is planning a larger trial involving several hospitals, a longer study period and more severe forms of OSA. Advertisement The team wants to further explore how shankh blowing affects airway muscle tone, oxygen levels and sleep and compare it against treatments like CPAP. Losing weight, exercising and abstaining from alcohol can also help OSA, along with oral devices, a different sleep position and surgery in severe cases.
Euronews
12 hours ago
- Health
- Euronews
Blowing a conch shell: Could this ancient practice improve your sleep?
For thousands of years, yogis across India have raised a spiralled seashell to their lips, taken a deep breath, and released a resonant, echoing note. This is known as conch or shankh blowing, an ancient ritual believed to purify the environment, boost lung power, and focus the mind. But now, modern science says it might do more than connect you with tradition – it could also help you sleep better. A new study published in ERJ Open Research found that practicing shankh blowing could ease symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a common but potentially dangerous sleep disorder in which blocked airways repeatedly interrupt breathing during the night. In a small study, people with moderate OSA who practiced the technique for six months every day not only slept better, but also felt more alert during the day and experienced fewer breathing interruptions at night. 'The way the shankh is blown is quite distinctive. It involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips," said Dr Krishna K Sharma, who led the study at the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India. That creates "strong vibrations and airflow resistance," he added, which may strengthen the throat and other muscles in the upper airway. In people with OSA, the upper airway often collapses overnight, leading to poor sleep. "The shankh's unique spiralling structure may also contribute to specific acoustic and mechanical effects that further stimulate and tone these muscles," Sharma said. In the trial, 30 people with moderate OSA were randomly assigned either shankh blowing or deep breathing exercises for at least 15 minutes per day, five days a week. Six months later, those in the conch-blowing group were 34 per cent less sleepy during the day. They also had four to five fewer apnoeas per hour on average and higher oxygen levels in their blood at night. How common is OSA and how else can it be treated? Obstructive sleep apnoea is far more common than many people realise. A 2019 study estimated that nearly one billion adults worldwide between the ages of 30 and 69 suffer from the condition. Symptoms can include frequent nighttime awakenings, pauses in breathing during sleep, unusual breathing patterns, daytime fatigue, and loud snoring. For many, the current standard treatment – a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine – works well but can be uncomfortable. That's why researchers are keen to explore non-invasive, low-cost alternatives. Some people opt for oral devices as an alternative to CPAP, especially those with mild to moderate symptoms. These mouthpieces work by keeping the airway open – often by repositioning the lower jaw or tongue – to reduce snoring and breathing interruptions. Potential shortcomings of the shankh study The study has some limitations. In a statement to Euronews Health, Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at the nonprofit Asthma + Lung UK, welcomed the findings but urged caution due to the study's small sample size. "It's too soon to say for certain that conch blowing can help people manage their obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)," she said, adding that it is not clear exactly why blowing through the shell might help improve symptoms. More studies are needed to understand how alternative treatments might help OSA patients, Kennington said. Previous research, for example, has found that playing wind instruments and singing could have a small but noticeable effect for people with sleep disorders. However, Kennington also emphasised the importance of making treatments of all kinds available to patients. 'Supporting people to manage their lung health in ways that feel accessible to them is incredibly important," she said.
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Why blowing into a shell ‘could help with common sleep disorder'
The practice of conch blowing, also known as shankh blowing, could improve sleep for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) without the need for uncomfortable machinery, according to researchers. Shankh blowing involves breathing in deeply before exhaling forcefully into a conch, the spiral-shaped shell from a species of sea snail. The small trial, led by researchers in India, involved 30 people aged with 19 and 65 with OSA. OSA happens with the walls of the throat relax and narrow or close, with symptoms including choking noises, loud snoring and waking up a lot. The condition is thought to impact about eight million people in the UK. For the trial, 16 people were provided with a traditional shankh used in yogic practices and trained in how to use it properly before taking it home, while the remaining 14 people were asked to carry out deep breathing exercises. Both groups were encouraged to practice for a minimum of 15 minutes five days a week. They were monitored during sleep and asked questions about sleep quality and how tired they felt during the day. After six months, the study found those who practised shankh blowing reported sleeping better and were 34pc less sleepy during the day. They also had higher levels of oxygen in the blood during the night and had four to five fewer apnoeas, where breathing stops during sleep, per hour on average. ADVERTISEMENT They also had higher levels of oxygen in their blood during the night. Dr Krishna K Sharma, of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, said: 'The way the shankh is blown is quite distinctive. 'It involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips. 'This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate, areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA. 'The shankh's unique spiralling structure may also contribute to specific acoustic and mechanical effects that further stimulate and tone these muscles.' Continuous positive airway pressure (Cpap) machines are the first line of treatment for OSA. They involve patients wearing a mask that blows pressurised air into the nose and throat while they sleep. However, they can be uncomfortable. Speaking of Cpap, Dr Sharma said: 'While effective, many patients find it uncomfortable and struggle to use it consistently.' He suggests shankh blowing could be a 'promising alternative'. 'Shankh blowing is a simple low-cost, breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication,' Dr Sharma said. Researchers are now planning a larger trial involving several hospitals. Dr Sharma added: 'This next phase will allow us to validate and expand on our findings in a broader, more diverse population and assess how shankh blowing performs over longer periods. 'We also want to study how this practice affects airway muscle tone, oxygen levels and sleep in greater detail. 'We're particularly interested in comparing shankh blowing with standard treatments like Cpap, and in examining its potential help in more severe forms of OSA.' Reacting to the findings, Professor Sophia Schiza, head of the ERS group on sleep disordered breathing, based at the University of Crete, Greece, said: 'We know that OSA patients have poor quality of sleep, and higher risks of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease. 'A proportion of patients experience sleepiness during the day. 'While Cpap and other treatments are available based on careful diagnosis of disease severity, there is still need for new treatments. 'This is an intriguing study that shows the ancient practice of shankh blowing could potentially offer an OSA treatment for selected patients by targeting muscles training. 'A larger study will help provide more evidence for this intervention which could be of benefit as a treatment option or in combination with other treatments in selected OSA patients.'
