Ancient shell, modern relief: How blowing a conch could help sleep apnea

For many, sleep is a battlefield of snoring, gas and exhaustion

But Indian researchers may have found a solution that doesn't involve a noisy CPAP machine

but rather a centuries-old yoga ritual with a conch shell. Researchers based in Jaipur, India, enlisted 30 adults aged 19 to 65

with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA. Half were taught to perform shock blowing

exhaling forcefully through a conch shell for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, while the others practiced standard deep breathing techniques

By the end of the study, the conch blowing group enjoyed striking improvements

Participants reported a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness. They had four to five fewer apnea episodes per hour of sleep

Overnight oxygen levels improved, contributing to better overall sleep quality, and apnea events during REM sleep decreased by 21.8%

The act of inhaling deeply then exhaling forcefully creating vibration and airflow resistance appears to tone the throat and soft palate muscles helping keep airways open during sleep

The appeal of shank blowing lies in its simplicity. Unlike CPAP machines, which are effective but often uncomfortable and costly

this method is inexpensive, portable, and culturally rooted. Dr. Krishna K. Sharma, who led the research, says

the way the shank is blown is quite distinctive. 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. Despite researchers

optimism, experts expressed caution, warning the study's sample size was small and the design

open label, which can introduce bias. But the researchers are already planning a larger

multi-hospital trial to validate results across diverse populations. That trial will compare

shock blowing directly with CPAP and other standard treatments. For more of our unbiased

straight fact reporting, download the Shader News app today or log on to san.com. For Shader News

I'm Kaylee Carey