Almost anything that irritates the nose can trigger
a sneezing fit, including dust, strong smells, temperature changes
and infections. Unfortunately, those with sneezing due to severe
allergies or hay fever have a miserable time, and end up physically
and emotionally exhausted.Sneezing is the body's way of removing irritants
Almost anything that irritates the nose can trigger a sneezing
fit, including dust, strong smells, temperature changes and infections.
Allergic people also sneeze, because they release irritant chemicals
like histamine into the nose when they come into contact with
allergens like dust mite, pollens or animals. Histamine irritates
nerve endings (triggering sneeze and itch), makes bloods vessels
in the nose swell and leak fluid (blocked nose) and drives mucus
glands to work harder (runny nose). That is why antihistamines
can help allergies.
Sneezing is hard work
Sneezing is a complex reflex. It starts with irritation of
the lining of the nose, and ends in an explosion of air from the
nose and mouth. Nerve impulses travel from the nose to the brain,
then back to other nerves that control the muscle of the abdomen,
chest, diaphragm, neck, face and eyelids as well as the mucus
glands and blood vessels of the nose. That's why we always end
up closing our eyes when we sneeze, and why the nose often runs
afterwards.
Getting rid of the bad humors
Some cultures have considered sneezing as a sign of good fortune
whereas others have seen it as an omen of death. Indeed, the saying
"God Bless You" is thought to have arisen during the
Bubonic Plague of the 6th century, where sneezing was one of its
early symptoms.
Unusual facts about sneezing
The material spread by sneezing can travel 2-3 metres, at
a speed of around 150 km/hour, so it's a very efficient way of
spreading germs. Some people sneeze when they pluck their eyebrows,
get cold or go out into the sun. "Sun sneezing (Photic sneezing)"
often runs in families, and occurs in around one in four people.
The world record
for sneezing is held by Donna Griffiths from Worstershire
in the UK, who sneezed for 978 days in a row, stopping on 16 September
1983 (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com ). For those with hay
fever, it's also very hard to avoid exposure to allergic triggers.
Allergen has been found in underwater submarines, in scuba tanks,
the Antarctic and even in space! (In space, no one can hear you
sneeze?) Some even credit the development of movies to Thomas
Edison's serial photographs of someone sneezing in 1894.
Sneezing can also be debilitating
Allergy affects 1 in 5 Australians, yet is often considered
more a nuisance than a major disease. Unfortunately, those with
severe allergies have a miserable time, and end up physically
and emotionally exhausted. Severe allergies have a major impact
on quality of life, sleep quality, mood,
work performance in adults and learning in children. Severe hay
fever is also associated with a number of medical complications,
such as more frequent sinus and middle ear infections, and harder
to control asthma. Fortunately, a number of safe and effective
treatments are available.
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