Sneezing

     Sneezing used to be thought of as a means for the body to drive out evil spirits. Today we know that the sudden forceful expulsion of air through the nose and mouth is caused by irritation of the mucous membrane.


     Sneezing is caused by irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose or throat.  Pollens, house dust, and other particles are usually harmless, but when they irritate the nose the body responds by expelling them from the nasal passages. The nose mistakes strong odors, sudden chills, and even bright lights and it tries to defend itself with a sneeze. It can be very bothersome, but is generally not a sign of a serious problem.

     A sneeze can leave the body at a speed of about 150km an hour. A sneeze involves muscles in the face, throat, chest and abdomen. It is probable, therefore, that a young, fit man can sneeze more forcefully than someone older or someone who has a smaller body frame, but it's clearly dependant on a number of variables whether or not men sneeze more forcefully than women.

     There is a common belief that the heart stops whenever we sneeze. It does not, although it can feel like your heart changes beat. Positive pressure is created in the chest when we sneeze (or cough), and that can momentarily alter the forcefulness with which your heart beats.

      Sneezes are not life-threatening. However, because you reflexively close your our eyes during each sneeze, it is possible that an ill-timed sneeze while driving could mean you fail to notice the car in front of you, or that the light has turned red. So, sneeze carefully!