Sinusitis is inflammation with or without infection affecting the sinus cavities. Pain, headache, swelling, discharge, excessive mucus and postnasal drip may all be present. Common treatments include steroid and non-steroid nasal sprays, antihistamines, antibiotics, inhalations, nasal washes etc.

Susceptible people often have multiple sensitivities to foods and chemicals and will also display disturbed sleep. Symptoms tend to become chronic and more frequent over time.

Over breathing, or hyperventilation, lowers the carbon dioxide level within the blood and the respiratory system including the nasal/sinus passages. A low carbon dioxide environment stimulates mast cells to release greater amounts of histamine, an inflammatory agent, in response to contact with allergens. In short, the body over-reacts and the nasal and sinus regions become swollen and inflamed. Secondary infections are common in the warm moist environment.

The Buteyko Institute Method of breathing retraining (BIM) reduces the acute and chronic hyperventilation leading to a normalising of the mast cell/histamine response to allergens. The nasal and sinus tissues become less inflamed and swollen allowing restoration of nasal breathing. Secondary infections reduce in frequency, and quality of sleep improves. The need for ongoing daily medication is rare.