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Didgeridoo helps stop snoring

Kept awake at night by a snoring partner? It might be a good idea to ask them to take up playing the didgeridoo.

New Swiss research has found that playing the didgeridoo can help reduce snoring and the day time sleepiness associated with the syndrome known as obstructive sleep apnoea.

Dr Milo Pulan of the University of Zurich and colleagues report their research in this week's British Medical Journal.

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome are two common sleep disorders caused by collapse of the upper airways.

The researchers say a didgeridoo instructor reported that some of his students had less daytime sleepiness and snoring after practicing the instrument for several months.

The didgeridoo is a wind instrument about 1.5 metres long from Australia and is traditionally made from the trunk of a tree hollowed out by termites.

The researchers examined 25 patients who suffered from snoring and moderate sleep apnoea to scientifically assess what impact didgeridoo playing would have on them.

Half the group were given daily lessons in playing the didgeridoo.

First they were taught how to place their lips over the instrument and produce a keynote for 20 to 30 seconds.

Then they learnt the art of circular breathing, a technique that enables the wind instrumentalist to maintain an unbroken sound for long periods of time by inhaling through the nose while maintaining airflow through the instrument, using the cheeks as bellows.

The participants had to practise at home for at least 20 minutes on at least five days a week.

Those who played the instrument over a four-month trial period saw a significant improvement in their daytime sleepiness and apnoea.

And their partners also reported less disturbance from snoring.

The researchers say training the upper airways through the breathing techniques required to play the didgeridoo was behind the improvement.

"Our results may give hope to many people with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and snoring, as well as their partners," they say.