Playing a wind instrument could help to reduce the risk of developing the serious breathing problems in sleep, researchers have reported.
The suggestion comes after researchers conducted lung function testing in 64 people who played a wind instrument and compared their results to a control group of 65 people who did not play any wind instruments.
All participants also completed the Berlin questionnaire, a common method used to assess the risk of sleep apnoea.
The study authors found that the relative risk of developing sleep apnoea based on the questionnaire was 0.18 in the wind instrument players, probably due to the increased muscle tone in the upper airways, which wind instrument players are likely to have. However, no difference was seen between the two groups in the lung function tests.
Silas Daniel Raj, study author, from Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, said: “The findings of our small study present an interesting theory on preventative measures or treatment in sleep apnoea.
“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.”
Researchers will present their findings today in Barcelona at the Sleep and Breathing Conference 2015.
Subramanian R, Raj S et al. Poster presentation: Estimation of lung functions and assessment of risk of developing Obstructive sleep apnoea in wind instrument players.
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