Heavy Snoring & Apnea Treatment Includes Playing Trumpet & Clarinet [Study]

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Playing wind instruments like trumpet and clarinet can help you sleep as it helps stop snoring, according to a new study.

A group of Indian researchers believe that playing or learning to play wind instruments is a cheaper alternative in preventing snoring and sleep apnea, according to the Telegraph.

Based on the research cited by the report, trumpet and clarinet players have lesser chance to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that causes loud snoring because of a soft tissue blocking the airways. When this condition is not treated, it could lead to diseases linked to chronic sleep problems such as heart disease, depression, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Silas Daniel Raj of the European Lung Foundation and one of the authors of the research said: "The findings of our small study present an interesting theory on preventative measures or treatment in sleep apnea.

"If the findings are confirmed in larger groups, wind instrument playing could become a cheap and non-invasive method of preventing sleep apnoea in those at risk of developing the condition."

According to Mirror, playing wind instruments such as brass, trumpet, or clarinet can help strengthen the muscles in the upper airways of the body. These strengthened muscles prevent the soft tissue from collapsing during sleep and ultimately, minimizes snoring and disturbed sleep.

Raj and his colleagues conducted the research by asking 130 participants to complete the Berlin questionnaire to study the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. They found out that half of the group who played wind instruments was less likely to develop OSA than others who did not play wind instruments, according to The Times of India. During lung function tests, there was no difference among the participants, and the questionnaires revealed that participants who played wind instruments had a lower risk of developing sleep apnea due to the increased muscle strength in their upper airways.

The research was presented at the Sleep and Breathing Conference in Barcelona, Spain.

Sleep Apnea is very common. It currently affects more than 18 million Americans. It is caused by the airway blockage during sleep in which the breathing involuntary stops during the night because the sleeper is mostly unaware and because the condition doesn't "trigger a full awakening," according to the American Sleep Apnea Association,

Some risk factors linked to sleep apnea include a small jaw, large overbite, large neck size, smoking, alcohol use, small upper airway, recessed chin, and being overweight or obese. Men have a higher risk for developing this condition compared to women.