Could blowing into a sea snail's shell help treat sleep apnea?

As a sleep medicine physician, this unexpected news story certainly caught my attention. My initial reaction was skeptical, as sleep experts generally don't prescribe natural objects found on beaches as medical treatment. However, I may have been too hasty to dismiss the idea. For those unfamiliar, a sea snail's shell is the coiled structure that houses the large mollusk; it has the ability to blow itself like a trumpet when hollowed out. We all know someone who snores, but not all snoring is harmless. If your partner notices that you occasionally stop breathing while you sleep, that's cause for concern. You may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which the throat muscles relax too much during sleep, causing your airway to narrow or completely close. These breathing interruptions, known as apneas, can occur dozens or even hundreds of times throughout the night.