One ACHOO can send air speeding from your nose at 44 meters per second. What could trigger such a big response?
Many things make us sneeze. Dust and the common cold cause lots of sneezes. Some people also suffer from allergies. This means they sneeze when they are around certain things that bother them, such as pollen and pets.
A sticky film and tiny hairs line the inside of your nose. They trap particles found in the air you breathe. This can bother nerve endings in your nose. Messages get fired off to the brain. Then your brain makes you sneeze to try to get rid of the “junk” in your nose.
A sneeze is a reflex action. That means you don’t have to think about it to do it – but a lot of muscles have to work together to make it happen. Muscles in your chest, throat, and eyes are some of the main ones that get involved.
Do you sneeze when you walk into bright sunlight? No one is sure what causes this kind of sneeze. But just like other sneezes, it’s one you can’t control. In fact, you might be thinking about other reflex actions.
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"Why do people sneeze?" was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 11:05 pm.
Thanks! Your explanation is very helpful.