据路透社12月22日报道，瑞士研究人员前不久对25名睡觉打鼾且患有中度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征的患者进行了研究。在研究过程中，每天会有一半的人接受吹奏迪吉里杜管的课程。迪吉里杜管是世界上最古老的乐器之一，是一种管乐，大约有1.5米长。这种乐器源于澳大利亚北部地区的土著部落，它的传统制作方法很简单。实际上，它就是由一根被白蚁挖空的空心树干制成的。

    打鼾和呼吸暂停综合征都属于比较常见的睡眠紊乱现象。研究发现，在长达4个月的试验过程中，那些白天吹奏这种乐器的人，他们日间嗜睡和呼吸暂停的症状都得到了明显的改善；而他们的伴侣也表示，他们夜间的打鼾症状也得到了缓解。

    对此，研究人员认为，正是吹奏迪吉里杜管所需要的呼吸技巧及相关训练让这些患者的症状得到了改善。研究人员还表示，他们的这一发现有望为众多的患有呼吸暂停综合征的人们和他们的伴侣带来福音。

    报道说，这一研究的具体成果将被发表在12月24日的《英国医学杂志》网络版上。

    Kept awake at night by a snoring partner? The answer to your woes could lie -- believe it or not -- with the Australian didgeridoo.

    Researchers in Switzerland examined 25 patients who suffered from snoring and moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, both common sleep disorders.

    Half the group were given daily lessons in playing the didgeridoo, a wind instrument about 1.5 meters (yards) long which originated in northern Australia and is traditionally made from the trunk of a tree hollowed out by termites.

    The study, published in the British Medical Journal's online edition on Friday, found that those who played the unusual instrument over a four-month trial period saw a significant improvement in their daytime sleepiness and apnea.

    Their partners also reported less disturbance from snoring.

    The researchers said 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 apnea syndrome and snoring, as well as their partners," the report's authors said.