When is laughter the best medicine? John Forrest, Kansas City

Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.

Readers reply

Recovering after an operation; because more often than not the patient is in stitches. ThereisnoOwl

When it’s schadenfreude. BlackCrowsKindom

In suitably large doses, it can be an effective diuretic. EddieChorepost

When recovering from a broken humerus. David_T

The late journalist Norman Cousins believed he cured himself of a serious illness by watching funny films. “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anaesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep,” he reported. He also gave himself massive intravenous doses of vitamin C, which is definitely not recommended. eibhear

My dad has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was in hospital this year. He wasn’t coping without oxygen for more than an hour. Then there was an incident on his ward – it’s a long story, but poo was found where poo shouldn’t be – and people were vocal in their opinions about it. It was gloriously silly and childish in the best way, made funnier by the lack of other entertainment. Dad laughed and laughed all day and by late afternoon he didn’t needing oxygen at all. He went home without it. Hummusexual