Just Keep Breathing Vibrating lips will produce a continuous drone that a skilled player can sustain for as long as desired, with the supply of air constantly replenished. It is believed that this technique may enhance the muscle strength in the tissues along the airway.
This technique entails breathing in through the nose, while at the same time, blowing out through the mouth into the instrument, using air that has been stored in the cheeks. Breathing this way is thought to strengthen the muscles in the upper airway, making them less likely to collapse during sleep.
The first choice of treatment for OSA is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, usually with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. In addition to CPAP machines, other sleep apnea devices include BiPAP machines, AutoPAP machines, positional therapy, oral appliances, and implant systems.
AS, a didgeridoo instructor, reported that he and some of his students experienced reduced daytime sleepiness and snoring after practising with this instrument for several months. In one person, the apnoea-hypopnoea index decreased from 17 to 2.
Descriptive analysis indicated that players of a double-reed instrument have a lower risk of obstructive sleep apnea and that singers snore less compared with control participants.
Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers.
These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
"We use a very small percentage of our lung capacity on a daily basis - by learning the didgeridoo we are learning to use more of our lungs. "The breathing technique needed to play the didgeridoo helps strengthen lung capacity and is proven to have reduced the effects of sleep apnea and asthma.
Playing the didgeridoo promotes deep breathing, and also puts you into a more relaxed state of mind. People who have heard the eerie and mellow sounds of a didgeridoo describe it as calming and meditative.
While playing it you really involve your entire self, engaging the lungs, diaphragm, larynx and sinuses. There is evidence to suggest that playing the didgeridoo not only helps to oxygenate the body, but may also help reduce snoring in individuals who suffer from it.
Inspire is an alternative to CPAP that works inside your body while you sleep. It's a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you're ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.
The CPAP is appropriate for moderate to severe sleep apnea, which oral devices may not be able to correct. Also available in smaller sizes for travel. Many different models to choose from.
“Side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best sleep position as it reduces apnea severity and snoring,” Dr. Knobbe said. It can also help keep your spine in proper alignment, although it can put additional strain on your shoulders, hips and spine.
Normally, your throat remains open enough during sleep to let air pass by. Some people have a narrow throat. When the muscles in their upper throat relax during sleep, the tissues close in and block the airway.
In some cases, sleep apnea can resolve if you return to a healthy weight, but it can recur if you regain the weight. Exercise. Regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk, most days of the week.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose connected to a mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure to help you breathe while you sleep.
Trying the digeridoo is something non-Aboriginal people should consider with sensitivity, as both male and female travelers are curious about how the instrument works. However, it is wise to allow the local Aboriginal elders where you are visiting to guide your actions.
The old myth was simple: if an aboriginal woman touched or played a didgeridoo she'd become pregnant. Rose advises that a woman would become infertile. That's a new one. And not just aboriginal women, but all women everywhere that dare to defy the taboo.
It was, for them, a sacred instrument for corroborees and other private 'men's business'. (In fact, we have been told that some believe that a woman may not even touch a didgeridoo.) Nowadays this is not a strong issue, and didgeridoos are often played by women just as well as men.
The breathing technique when you play didgeridoo - circular or cyclic breathing - acts as a pharyngeal muscle exercise and helps stiffen the pharynx to prevent collapse. Circular breathing is controlled by the muscles in the upper airway, and it means to blow out and breathe in almost the same time.
Due to its size (some can measure up to over 10 feet / 3 meters in length) and club-like appearance, a didgeridoo may not fit into most airlines' musical instrument policy. In such cases, you will need to have your didgeridoo checked into the cargo hold.
While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle factors can reverse or make your sleep apnea less intense. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition. Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway muscles relax while you sleep.
Lifestyle and behavioral changes can help treat sleep apnea symptoms. View Source . A number of steps are recommended by health experts as a first-line treatment for sleep apnea, such as changing sleep positions, avoiding alcohol and certain medications, and exercising regularly.