People who play certain wind instruments, like the didgeridoo , may find it easier to breathe while sleeping, according to emerging research.

A new randomized controlled trial suggests that blowing through a conch shell is another option for keeping our airways clear when we sleep, reducing the risk of a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Affecting close to a billion adults worldwide in some form, OSA is characterized by significant pauses in breathing while asleep.

Among 30 participants with moderate OSA, roughly half the group were tasked with a traditional Indian exercise known as shankh , which involves using a conch-shell as a trumpet. Meanwhile, the other half practiced deep, slow breathing through the nose and out a relaxed mouth.

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