Humming could be a simple way of keeping sinusitis at bay in those at risk, say researchers in Sweden.

Sinusitis affects up to 14 per cent of the US population, often occurring after a cold. It's a painful condition involving blockage of the area between the nasal cavity and the sinuses, and it often recurs.

Researchers in Sweden studied the effect of daily humming on the ventilation of the sinuses in a group of 10 healthy males. The practice led to a speeding up of air exchange between the sinuses and the nasal cavity. It may be that a daily hum will help those at risk to keep sinusitis at bay, the researchers say. This is what they'll try to evaluate in the next stage of their study.

Source

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine July 2002