🐚 Can blowing into a conch shell help with sleep apnea?

Hi everyone, how has your sleep been lately?

This might sound a bit unusual, but I came across a small study that caught my attention, so I wanted to open it up for discussion here.

Researchers in India recently looked into an ancient yogic breathing practice called shankh blowing (basically, blowing into a conch shell) and found that it might help reduce symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. The idea is that the technique involves strong, sustained exhalations, which could help strengthen the muscles of the upper airway (like the throat and soft palate) that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA.

💡 In this small trial, people with moderate OSA who practiced conch blowing daily for six months had fewer apnea episodes and felt more alert during the day compared to those who just did deep breathing exercises.

🎺 It reminded me of something I’ve heard anecdotally from musicians: wind instrument players (like saxophonists or trumpet players) sometimes report stronger breathing control and fewer apnea symptoms over time. Could there be a link?

👉 That said, this was a very small study, and it’s not a replacement for CPAP, lifestyle changes, or medical treatment. But for those who find CPAP uncomfortable or inaccessible, it might be something worth exploring, alongside your doctor’s advice, of course.

Have you heard of this before?

Do you play any wind instruments or practice similar breathing exercises?

Would you try something like this if it helped with your symptoms?

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Let’s talk!

Take care,

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼