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AH-CHOO! SNEEZING FACTS AND CAUSES

sneezing-facts-and-causes

Sneezing is something we all do from time to time, but how often do you pause to think about what’s actually happening in your body when you sneeze?

A sneeze begins when nerve endings in the lining of your nose are ‘tickled’ by invaders, which range from common allergens1 to triggers you won’t believe. Have a look at the table below—have any of these more surprising causes of sneezing ever set you off?

SOME COMMON SNEEZING CAUSES SOME STRANGER SNEEZING CAUSES
  • The common cold or the flu2
  • Dust, pollen, mould, pet dander2
  • Cold air1
  • Pepper and spicy foods2
  • Dry air2
  • Certain types of infections2
  • Bright light—1 in 3 people sneeze when they gaze into bright sunshine1
  • After large meals1   
  • Plucking eyebrows—those nerve endings are quite sensitive3   
  • Strong emotions2 (like fear)   
  • Working out—over-exertion dries your nose and mouth; dripping sweat can irritate the nostrils, and voila: achoo!4  
  • After sex—sneezing can be a response either to sexual ideation or in response to orgasm4

 

While the causes of sneezing vary, the sneeze itself remains the same. Here are 7 facts about sneezing that shed some light on what’s really going on.

7 FUN FACTS ABOUT SNEEZING

  1. Once a sneeze starts, you can’t stop it.3
  2. The force of a sneeze can change the rhythm of your heartbeat. But don’t worry! Contrary to myth, your heart does NOT stop when you sneeze.3
  3. Sneezing is a full-body workout that includes the throat, chest, diaphragm, and abdomen.6
  4. A single sneeze can travel up to 100 MPH.3
  5. A sneeze can produce up to 40,000 droplets.7
  6. A sneeze has a spray radius up to 5 ft.3
  7. You don’t sneeze when you’re asleep because the nerves that trigger sneezing are also sleeping.3

DID YOU KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE TO SNEEZE WITH YOUR EYES OPEN?

Like any reflex, the urge to close your eyes during a sneeze can be suppressed. And while you should cover your nose and mouth to help shield others from the full power of your sneeze, there’s no need to worry about keeping your eyes closed. Your eyes have muscles holding them in place and are not solely kept in your head by your eyelids.5

IS SNEEZING A SIGN OF AN ALLERGY?

In a word—maybe. Often enough, a sneeze is just a sneeze, but if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, then you might be suffering from allergies.

If you’re contending with symptoms like nasal congestion, itchy and/or watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose, you might want to speak with a healthcare provider about the possibility that you have allergies.

If you have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies by your healthcare professional, why not try FLONASE Allergy Relief? It’s a once-daily nasal spray that provides 24-hour symptom relief, so you can keep sneezing and other symptoms at bay around the clock.

Learn more about how allergy nasal sprays compare to other common ways of treating allergy symptoms, and find out where to buy FLONASE Allergy Relief today. 

 

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