Latest news with #shankhblowing
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The 5 proven ways to REALLY stop your partner snoring – as scientists recommend blowing through a conch shell
It's an issue that sparks arguments among couples around the world. And if your partner snores, you've probably tried everything from ear plugs to white noise. This week, scientists revealed that an ancient hack could finally help relive the dreadful symptoms of snoring. According to experts from the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, blowing into a conch shell – also known as shankh blowing – can alleviate snoring. But does this really work? And what other ways are they to stop your partner snoring? Professor Michelle Spear, a professor of anatomy at the University of Bristol, has revealed five proven methods. 'Snoring is often dismissed as a harmless quirk – or the punchline of bedtime jokes,' she explained in an article for The Conversation. 'But it can signal deeper issues that go beyond mere acoustic annoyance.' Snoring is caused by issues with your tongue, mouth, throat or airways in your nose vibrating as you breathe. For this reason, Professor Spear breaks down her advice by body part – the nose, the jaw, the tongue, the soft palate, and the pharynx. 1. Nasal strips Snoring is often caused by problems within the nose, including allergies, polyps, or a deviated septum. These problems force you to switch to mouth breathing – increasing airflow turbulence. Thankfully, there are several solutions for nose–based snoring issues, according to Professor Spear. 'Saline nasal rinses and sprays can help clear allergens and mucus, promoting smooth airflow,' she advised. 'And mechanical aids, such as nasal strips or nostril dilators, widen the nasal aperture, encouraging nose breathing. If your tongue is the issue, Profesor Spear recommends 'tongue push–ups', where the tongue is pressed against the roof of the mouth and held for several seconds before relaxing 'Even the simple act of practising nasal breathing during the day can help reduce snoring.' 2. Sleep on your side For other people, the issue lies with the jaw. 'A lower jaw that sits too far back – whether due to genetics or possibly injury – can cause the tongue to fall backwards during sleep and block the airway,' Professor Spear explained. 'If the mouth also falls open, it throws off the balance between the space in the mouth and the surrounding soft tissues, making snoring more likely.' The simple fix? Sleeping on your side. 'Sleeping on your side counteracts this gravitational collapse,' the expert advised. If that doesn't do the trick, you can also try gently closing your lips with hypoallergenic tape to stabilise the jaw, and promote nasal breathing. 3. Tongue push–ups As you sleep, the muscles around your tongue gradually relax. This isn't an issue for most people. However, if you have a large tongue, weak tongue muscles, or a loose tongue tie, your tongue can fall backwards, partially blocking your airway – and causing snoring. If your tongue is the issue, Profesor Spear recommends targeted exercises to improve tongue strength and control. 'One such exercise is the "tongue push–up", where the tongue is pressed against the roof of the mouth and held for several seconds before relaxing,' she advised. 'Another involves sticking the tongue out as far as possible and moving it in different directions – up, down and side to side – to enhance flexibility and tone.' 4. Conch shell blowing The soft palate – the area just behind the mouth – helps control airflow and stop food or liquid from going up into the nose., However, during sleep, the muscles that usually lift the soft palate relax, which can lead to breathing difficulties for some people. Professor Spear recommends exercises to strengthen these muscles – including conch shell blowing. 'A simpler approach is to mimic chewing motions while pressing the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which engages and strengthens the muscles in this area,' she added. 5. Singing Finally, your snoring issues could stem back to the pharynx - the muscular tube linking your nose and mouth to the larynx and oesophagus. 'The muscles in the throat help keep the airways open when you're awake, but they relax during sleep,' Professor Spear explained. 'As we get older, or after drinking alcohol or taking sedatives, these muscles can become weaker. 'In people who are overweight, extra fat around the neck can also create external pressure on the airway, especially when lying down.' According to the expert, there are specific breathing an voice exercises you can do to help strengthen these muscles - including singing. 'Singing, especially using sounds like 'la' and 'ka', is a simple and effective way to do this,' she said. OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) occurs when the walls of a person's throat relax and narrow during sleep, blocking their airways. This interrupts normal breathing, with symptoms including loud snoring, noisy and laboured breathing, and repeated episodes when breathing is interrupted by gasping and snorting. OSA affects between four and 10 per cent of people in the UK. In the US, around 22 million are affected. During an episode, the lack of oxygen triggers a sufferer's brain to pull them out of deep sleep so their airways reopen. These repeated sleep interruptions can make the person very tired, with them often being unaware of what the problem is. Risks for OSA include: Being overweight - excess body fat increases the bulk of soft tissues in the neck Being male Being 40 or over Having a large neck Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol Being in the menopause - hormonal changes cause the throat muscles to relax Treatment includes lifestyle changes, such as loosing weight, if necessary, and avoiding alcohol. In addition, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices prevent the airway closing by delivering a continuous supply of compressed air through a mask. A mandibular advancement device (MAD) can also be used, which is like a gum-shield that holds the jaw and tongue forward to increase the space at the back of the throat. Untreated, OSA increases a person's risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks and type 2 diabetes.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Blowing through conch shell could help treat dangerous sleep condition
Blowing a conch shell regularly could help reduce the symptoms of a dangerous sleep condition, according to new research. Shankh blowing is an ancient Indian practice used by yogis for thousands of years, and involves deep inhalation followed by forceful exhalation through a conch shell. But scientists now believe the technique could have huge benefits for those suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) - a relatively common condition where airways become blocked at night, interrupting peaceful breathing. A study published in ERJ Open Research on Monday shows that people with moderate OSA who practised shankh blowing slept better, felt more alert during the day and had fewer breathing interruptions at night. Researchers are now arguing the ancient method could be a simple and cheap way to reduce symptoms without the need for medication or machines. Around 1.5 million adults in the UK are estimated to have OSA. As well as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness, the condition can also increase the risk of serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes. In the study, a group of 30 people with moderate OSA were randomly assigned either shankh blowing or deep breathing exercises, which each group encouraged to practice at least 15 minutes per day for five days a week. Researchers said when the groups were reassessed six months later, the people who practised shankh blowing were 34 per cent less sleepy during the daytime. The study found they also reported sleeping better, and monitoring of their sleep revealed that they 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. The study was led by Dr Krishna K Sharma from the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India. He said their research showed potential for an alternative to the current treatment of a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, which patients can find 'uncomfortable'. Dr Sharma 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. 'For people living with OSA, especially those who find CPAP uncomfortable, unaffordable, or inaccessible, our findings offer 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. He added the study was 'small', but researchers are now planning a larger trial involving several hospitals.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Unlikely, non-invasive treatment could significantly improve sleep
An ancient ritual of shankh blowing, involving forceful exhalation into a conch shell, shows promise as a non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). A small trial in India found that participants who practised shankh blowing for six months reported better sleep, 34 per cent less daytime sleepiness, and fewer breathing interruptions during the night. Researchers suggest the technique strengthens upper airway muscles, which are often implicated in OSA, potentially offering an alternative to uncomfortable continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. Obstructive sleep apnoea affects an estimated eight million people in the UK, causing symptoms like loud snoring and frequent awakenings due to throat muscle relaxation. Further larger-scale trials are planned to validate these findings, compare shankh blowing with standard treatments, and assess its long-term effectiveness for a wider population.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Shells could stop snoring condition 8million suffer from in UK
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. READ MORE: Drivers urged to fill up tanks with Petrol and Diesel before Monday READ MORE: Will strikes disrupt Ryanair flights to Alicante, Ibiza, Mallorca and Tenerife? 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.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The ancient ritual that could help improve your sleep
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.'
