An Indian breathing practice of blowing into a conch shell may offer a promising way to treat sleep apnoea, according to a recent study.
Researchers found that participants who practised the technique experienced a significant reduction in symptoms and improved sleep quality.
For more on this health scientist and sleep coach, Tom Coleman, joined RTÉ Radio 1 - listen back above.
"It's a bit of a strange one," Tom admits. "Participants were trained on how to force air through the shell using deep breaths, so it's like blowing into a trombone or something like that."
By training these expiratory muscles (muscles that help you push air out of your lungs), the tissues that might collapse during obstructive sleep apnoea are strengthened, which Tom says can help "to a certain degree".
Although he says the study was relatively small, he notes that it was objective, with oxygen saturation and breathing episodes being measured over six months.
"It does depend on the severity of sleep apnoea," he adds, explaining that this will likely be most helpful for those with mild sleep apnoea (five to 10 sleep disruptions per hour).
Overall, though, he insists that CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines are the "gold standard", reducing episodes by 70-90% whereas the conch shells are less reliable.
Despite this, those trying to sleep beside snorers, might want them to give anything a go.
"Snoring is cited as the third highest cause of divorce in the US," he explains. "It's a real thing that can eat into the relationship."
A lot of people, he explains, don't know that they have sleep apnoea because it tends to happen during deeper sleep. It can go undiagnosed until observed by a partner.
Diagnosis is key, but in the meantime, Tom says to avoid sleeping on your back and opt for side sleeping to avoid snoring. There are also tongue, throat and jaw exercises that can "help with the integrity of the tissue".
Listen back to the full interview on RTÉ Radio 1 above.
