If you suffer from snoring, sleep apnea or sleep near a affected person, this newcomer to India may well change your nights. According to a new study, blowing in a conch, also called Shankh blowing(yes yes, in a shell) would significantly improve the quality of sleep and reduce the symptoms of this night respiratory disorder.
Sleep apnea: a widespread and dangerous disorder
Obstructive sleep or AOS apnea affects approximately 4 % and 10 % of the adult population in France and is characterized by respiratory breaks during sleep, often accompanied by intense snoring, suffocation noises and fragmented sleep.
This disorder increases the risk of hypertension, brain vascular accidents and heart disease.
The most common treatment is based on the use of a continuous positive pressure device (CPAP), effective but often uncomfortable.
The promising results of a conch treatment
Led by a team of researchers from the Eternal Heart Care Center and Research Institute in Jaipur, a recent study involved 30 participants aged 19 to 65, all suffering from AOS. The volunteers practiced “Shankh blowing” 15 minutes a day, five days a week, for six months. For promising results.
- 34 % less drowsiness during the day compared to the control group;
- Improved sleep quality;
- A higher nocturnal blood oxygen level;
- On average 4 to 5 less apnea per hour.
Magic? Not really. Dr. Krishna K Sharma, who led the study, explains the physical benefits of this particular blowing.
“Shankh blowing is a unique exercise that implies a deep inspiration followed by a strong and sustained expiration through tight lips. This action generates vibrations and resistance to air flow, reinforcing the muscles of the upper respiratory tract, often weakened in people with AOS.”
According to him, the spiral structure of conch would also contribute to mechanical and acoustic effects beneficial for muscle tone.
A simple and inexpensive alternative
Unlike sophisticated medical devices, this technique is non -drug, inexpensive and easy to practice (… Finally if you have tolerant neighbors). Researchers are already planning a larger clinical trial, involving several hospitals, in order to assess its effects on more serious and long -term cases. If these results are confirmed on a large scale, they could make noise: blowing in a conch could become a complementary tool, even an alternative, with current treatments. A natural solution, from a millennial tradition, which could improve the health and sleep of millions of people.
If you are on vacation in the islands, you now know what you can bring back in your luggage!