- 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.
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