As soon as people sneeze, everyone in the room is ready to say “bless you.” Sneezing is nearly as common as blinking. Though involuntary and sometimes explosive, sneezing helps your body relieve itself of debris, allergens and mucus. There are many different reasons for why people sneeze.
Why sneezing happens
The nose has small hairs that protect the nasal mucosa. Sneezing happens when irritants makes it past the hairs. The body has neurons signal this and then send an impulse to the brain. A sneeze is a full body experience. Not only does your mouth and nose move but muscles contract in the diaphragm and larynx. When you start to sneeze, air is expelled from your lungs because the body wants to dispel whatever is in the nose. People cannot sneeze while asleep. However, if there is an irritant, you may wake up. A common misconception is that the heart stops when you sneeze. Instead, the heart rhythm may change as your breathing shifts.
Common causes
Allergies and the common cold
Allergens, dirt and other particles aggravate sneezing. Some people experience seasonal allergies whereas others may experience heightened sneezing after spring cleaning. And of course, many colds and illnesses come with sneezing.
Bright lights
Some people may sneeze more if they experience bright light. Roughly one in three people experience this. Photic sneezing is not an allergy. Instead, the light sends a signal to the brain to shrink pupils. In turn, you may have the impulse to also sneeze.
Plucking eyebrows
Plucking eyebrows can make some people sneeze. The action stimulates your nerves, which can send a signal to the brain. Over time, regular plucking could get the body used to this, though some people have a heightened sensitivity.
Other causes
Everyone’s body is different. Some people sneeze more when it is cold outside whereas others sneeze after a big meal. There are even people who sneeze because of sexual arousal.
Multiple sneezes
It is normal to sneeze a few times in a row. The body wants to make sure all of the particles are out of the body. The amount of sneezing depends on the person and the amount of irritants.
Other animals sneeze too
Different animals also experience sneezing. For example, tigers, dogs, and cats all sneeze for the same reason as humans. Some animals even sneeze to communicate or express their needs. Marine iguanas sneeze to remove salt from their nasal glands whereas African wild dogs will sneeze to make decisions regarding hunting.
Don’t hold back
Holding back a sneeze in progress does more harm than good. A person could experience pain or even a case of vertigo if they try to stop a sneeze from happening. Other consequences include pain, eardrum rupture or hearing loss. Some people could pop blood vessels in their eyes or injure their diaphragm as it tries to contract.
Prevent sneezing
If a sneeze has not happened yet, the best way to stop it is to pinch the bridge of the nose and press the tongue to the roof of one’s mouth. Another technique is to count to ten and to exhale slowly. Following these steps means it is harder for the body to produce the sneeze even if the impulse has been sent. And of course, the best way to avoid a sneeze is to avoid triggers like pollen and to invest in regular housekeeping. People who are sensitive to the cold or bright lights should avoid these as well.
Everyone has different triggers for sneezing. The more a person knows, the easier it is to understand sneezing and how to predict it. A person may not be able to live a life without sneezing, but it is possible to stay prepared.
