Sneeze

A sneeze, or sternutation, is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from

Sneeze
the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating
the nasal mucosa. A sneeze expels air forcibly from the mouth and nose in an
explosive, spasmodic involuntary action resulting chiefly from irritation of the nasal
mucous membrane. This action allows for mucus to escape through the nasal
cavity.[1] Sneezing is possibly linked to sudden exposure to bright light, sudden
change (fall) in temperature, breeze of cold air, a particularly full stomach, or viral
infection, and can lead to the spread of disease.

The function of sneezing is to expel mucus containing foreign particles or irritants The function of sneezing is to expel
and cleanse the nasal cavity. During a sneeze, the soft palate and palatine uvula mucus containing irritants from the
depress while the back of the tongue elevates to partially close the passage to the nasal cavity.
mouth so that air ejected from the lungs may be expelled through the nose. Because
Biological Respiratory system
the closing of the mouth is partial, a considerable amount of this air is usually also
system
expelled from the mouth. The force and extent of the expulsion of the air through the
Health Beneficial
nose varies.
Action Involuntary
Sneezing cannot occur during sleep due to REM atonia – a bodily state where motor
Stimuli Irritants of the nasal
neurons are not stimulated and reflex signals are not relayed to the brain. Sufficient
mucosa
external stimulants, however, may cause a person to wake from sleep to sneeze, but
Light
any sneezing occurring afterwards would take place with a partially awake status at
Cold air
minimum.[2]
Snatiation
Infection
Method Expulsion of air
Contents through nose/mouth
Description Outcome Removal of irritant
Effects
Epidemiology
Prevention
History
Culture
Verbal responses
Sound
Sneezing in non-humans
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Description
Sneezing typically occurs when foreign particles or sufficient external stimulants pass through the nasal hairs to reach the nasal
mucosa. This triggers the release ofhistamines, which irritate the nerve cells in the nose, resulting in signals being sent to the brain to
initiate the sneeze through the trigeminal nerve network. The brain then relates this initial signal, activates the pharyngeal and
tracheal muscles and creates a large opening of the nasal and oral cavities, resulting in a powerful release of air and bioparticles. The
powerful nature of a sneeze is attributed to its involvement of numerous organs of the upper body – it is a reflexive response
involving the face, throat, and chest muscles. Sneezing is also triggered by sinus nerve stimulation caused by nasal congestion and
allergies.

The neural regions involved in the sneeze reflex are located in the brainstem along the ventromedial part of the spinal trigeminal
nucleus and the adjacent pontine-medullary lateral reticular formation. This region appears to control the epipharyngeal, intrinsic
[3]
laryngeal and respiratory muscles, and the combined activity of these muscles serve as the basis for the generation of a sneeze.

The sneeze reflex involves contraction of a number of different muscles and muscle groups throughout the body, typically including
the eyelids. The common suggestion that it is impossible to sneeze with one's eyes open is, however, inaccurate.[4] Other than
irritating foreign particles, allergies or possible illness, another stimulus is sudden exposure to bright light – a condition known as
photic sneeze reflex (PSR). Walking out of a dark building into sunshine may trigger PSR, or the ACHOO (autosomal dominant
compulsive helio-ophthalmic outbursts of sneezing) syndrome as it's also called.[5] The tendency to sneeze upon exposure to bright
light is an autosomal dominant trait and affects 18-35% of the human population.[6] A rarer trigger, observed in some individuals, is
the fullness of the stomach immediately after a large meal. This is known as snatiation and is regarded as a medical disorder passed
along genetically as an autosomal dominant trait.

Effects
It is known for some people to sneeze during the initial phases of sexual arousal. Doctors suspect that the phenomenon might arise
from a case of crossed wires in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates a number of functions in the body, including "waking
up" the genitals during arousal. The nose, like the genitals, contains erectile tissue.. This phenomenon may prepare the vomeronasal
[7]
organ for increased detection of pheromones. Sneezing while menstruating may result in a sudden vaginal menses emission.

Epidemiology
While generally harmless in healthy individuals, sneezes spread disease through the
infectious aerosol droplets, commonly ranging from 0.5 to 5 µm. A sneeze can
produce 40,000 droplets.[8] To reduce the possibility of thus spreading disease (such
as the flu), one holds the forearm or the inside of the elbow in front of one's mouth
and nose when sneezing. Using one's hand for that purpose has recently fallen into
disuse [9] as it is considered inappropriate, since it promotes spreading germs
through human contact (such as handshaking) or by commonly touched objects
(most notably doorknobs).

Prevention
Examples of preventive techniques are: the deep exhalation of the air in the lungs
that would otherwise be used in the act of sneezing, holding the breath in while
counting to ten or gently pinching the bridge of the nose for several seconds.

Proven methods to reduce sneezing generally advocate reducing interaction with

irritants, such as keeping pets out of the house to avoid animal dander; ensuring the
timely and continuous removal of dirt and dust particles through proper Sneeze is covered by handkerchief
housekeeping; replacing filters for furnaces and air-handling units; air filtration or forearm
devices and humidifiers; and staying away from industrial and agricultural zones. Some people, however, find sneezes to be
pleasurable and would not want to prevent them.[10]

History
In Ancient Greece, sneezes were believed to be prophetic signs from the gods. In 401 BC, for instance, the Athenian general
Xenophon gave a speech exhorting his fellow soldiers to fight against the Persians. A soldier underscored his conclusion with a
sneeze. Thinking that this sneeze was a favorable sign from the gods, the soldiers were impressed.[11] Another divine moment of
sneezing for the Greeks occurs in the story of Odysseus. His waiting wife Penelope, hearing Odysseus may be alive, says that he and
his son would take revenge on the suitors if he were to return. At that moment, their son sneezes loudly and Penelope laughs with joy,
reassured that it is a sign from the gods (Odyssey 17: 541-550). It may be because this belief survived through the centuries, that in
certain parts of Greece today, when someone is asserting something and the listener sneezes promptly at the end of the assertion, the
former responds "bless you and I am speaking the truth", or "bless you and here is the truth", "γεια σου κι αλήθεια λέω", ya sou ki
alithia leo, or "γεια σου και να κι η αλήθεια", ya sou ke na ki i alithia). A similar practice is also followed in India.[12][13] If either
the person just having made a not most obvious statement in Flemish, or some listener sneezes, often one of the listeneners will say
" 't is beniesd", literally "It's sneezed upon", as if a proof of truth – usually self-ironically recalling this old superstitious habit, without
either suggesting doubt or intending an actual confirmation, but making any apology by the sneezer for the interruption superfluous
as the remark is received by smiles.[14]

In Europe, principally around the early Middle Ages, it was believed that one's life was in fact tied to one's breath – a belief reflected
in the word "expire" (originally meaning "to exhale") gaining the additional meaning of "to come to an end" or "to die". This
connection, coupled with the significant amount of breath expelled from the body during a sneeze, had likely led people to believe
that sneezing could easily be fatal. Such a theory could explain the reasoning behind the traditional English phrase, "God bless you",
in response to a sneeze, the origins of which are not entirely clear (see "Traditional Responses To A Sneeze" below for alternative
explanations). Sir Raymond Henry Payne Crawfurd, for instance, the registrar of the Royal College of Physicians, in his 1909 book,
"The Last Days of Charles II", states that, when the controversial monarch was on his deathbed, his medical attendants administered a
concoction of cowslips and extract of ammonia to promote sneezing.[15] However, it is not known if this promotion of sneezing was
done to hasten his death (ascoup de grâce) or as an ultimate attempt at treatment.

In certain parts of Eastern Asia, particularly in Chinese culture, Korean culture, Japanese culture and Vietnamese culture, a sneeze
without an obvious cause was generally perceived as a sign that someone was talking about the sneezer at that very moment. This can
be seen in the Book of Songs (a collection of Chinese poems)[16] in ancient China as early as 1000 BC, and in Japan this belief is still
depicted in present-day manga and anime. In China, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan, for instance, there is a superstition that if
talking behind someone's back causes the person being talked about to sneeze; as such, the sneezer can tell if something good is being
said (one sneeze), something bad is being said (two sneezes in a row), even if someone is in love with them (three sneezes in a row)
or if this is a sign that they are about to catch acold (multiple sneezes).

Parallel beliefs are known to exist around the world, particularly in contemporary Greek, Slavic, Celtic, English, French, and Indian
cultures. Similarly, in Nepal, sneezers are believed to be remembered by someone at that particular moment.

Culture
In Indian culture, especially in northern parts of India, Bengali (Bangladesh and Bengal of India) culture and also in Iran, it has been
a common superstition that a sneeze taking place before the start of any work was a sign of impending bad interruption. It was thus
customary to pause in order to drink water or break any work rhythm before resuming the job at hand in order to prevent any
misfortune from occurring.

Contrarily, in Polish culture, especially in the Kresy Wschodnie borderlands, a popular belief persists that sneezes may be an
inauspicious sign that one's mother-in-law speaks ill of their son-in-law at that moment. The same phenomenon is thought to
correspond to daughters-in-law and their mothers-in-law. As with other Catholic countries, such as Mexico, Italy, or Ireland, the
remnants of pagan culture are fostered in Polish peasant idiosyncratic superstitions.
The practice among Islamic culture, in turn, has largely been based on various prophetic traditions and the teachings of Muhammad.
An example of this is Al-Bukhaari's narrations from Abu Hurayrah that Muhammad once said:

When one of you sneezes, let him say, "Al-hamdu-Lillah" (Praise be to God), and let his brother or companion say to
him, "Yarhamuk Allah" (May God have mercy on you). If he says, "Yarhamuk-Allah", then let [the sneezer] say,
"Yahdeekum Allah wa yuslihu baalakum"(May God guide you and rectify your condition).

Verbal responses
In English-speaking countries, one common verbal response to another person's sneeze is, "[May God] bless you". Another common
verbal response to another's sneeze is, "Gesundheit"; Gesundheit being a German word that means, appropriately
, "good health".

Several hypotheses exist for why the custom arose of saying "bless you" or "God bless you" in the context of sneezing:

Some say it came into use during theplague pandemics of the 14th century. Blessing the individual after showing
such a symptom was thought to prevent possible impending death due to the lethal disease.
In Renaissance times, a superstition was formed claiming one's heart stopped for a very brief moment during the
sneeze; saying bless you was a sign of prayer that the heart would not fail.
It has also been stated that one says "(God) bless you" so that one does not catch the flu, cold, or any other forms of
sickness.
Other cultures have similar traditions:

In Muslim countries, after a person sneezes they often say Al- ḥamdu lillāh (Arabic: ‫ )اﻟﺤﻤﺪ ﻟﻠﻪ‬is an Arabic phrase
meaning "Praise to God".His/her companion should say to he/she Y arhamuk-Allah "May Allah have mercy on you."
The sneezing person should say Yahdikum-ullah wa yuslihu balakum "May Allah guide you and render sound your
state of affairs." [17]
In Iran, it is common to respond to sneezing with thePersian phrase "‫"ﻋﺎﻓﯿﺖ ﺑﺎﺷﻪ‬, which translates to "health",
similar to common European expressions.
Indian culture is to respond with Krishna, similar to a blessing in western cultures.
In Slovakia, after a person sneezes, it is proper to say "Na zdravie!" which means "For health!"; a proper response
should be "Ďakujem" which means "Thanks". This is also the case in Finland, where "terveydeksi" means "for
health".
In Turkey, after a person sneezes, it is proper to say "Çok yaşa" which means "Live long"; a proper response should
be "Sen de gör" which means "May you see too [that I lived long enough]".
In Telugu, a reciprocation to someone's sneeze is "chiranjeeva sataish" ( ర౦ వ) which means "may you live long"
(from Sanskrit).
In Tamil, a reciprocation to someone's sneeze is "Dheergaiyish" which means "may you live long" (from Sanskrit).
In Japanese entertainment, a character's sneeze frequently means that someone elsewhere is talking about said
character by coincidence.

Sound
Languages have onomatopoeic words for sneezing:

English: ahchoo or achoo

Bengali: hachi
Cantonese: hat chi
Kannada: aakshi
Mandarin: ati
Filipino: ha-ching
French: atchoum
Czech: hepsheek
German: hatschi
Greek: apsu
Hebrew: apchee
 Hungarian: hapci
Indonesian: hachi
Italian: eccì or ecciù[18]
Japanese: hakshon
Nepali: hachhyuu
Norwegian: atsjo
Polish: apsik
Portuguese: atchim or atchô
Romanian: hapciù
Russian: apchkhee
Spanish: atchu
Slovak: hapchee
Tamil: hach
Turkish: hapshoo
Vietnamese: hat xi
Telugu: thummu

Sneezing in non-humans
Sneezing is not confined to humans or even mammals. Many animals including cats,[19] dogs,[20] chickens[21] and iguanas[22]
sneeze. African wild dogs use sneezing as a form of communication, especially when considering a consensus in a pack on whether
or not to hunt.[23] Some breeds of dog are predisposed toreverse sneezing.

See also
Rhinitis
Sniffle

References
1. "Sneeze" (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sneeze). Retrieved April 6, 2012.
2. "Sleep On, Sneeze Not : A Moment of Science"(http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/sleep-on-sneeze-n
ot). Retrieved 2019-02-21.
3. Nonaka S, Unno T, Ohta Y, Mori S (March 1990). "Sneeze-evoking region within the brainstem".Brain Res. 511 (2):
265–70. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(90)90171-7(https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0006-8993%2890%2990171-7) .
PMID 2139800 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2139800).
4. "Myth: Can sneezing with your eyes open make your eyeballs pop out?"
(http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbust
ers/db/human-body/sneezing-eyeballs-pop-out.html)
.
5. Goldman, Jason G. (June 24, 2015)."Why looking at the sun makes us sneeze"(http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20
150623-why-looking-at-the-light-makes-us-sneeze)
. BBC Future. BBC. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
6. Breitenbach RA, Swisher PK, Kim MK, Patel BS (December 1993). "The photic sneeze reflex as a risk factor to
combat pilots". Mil Med. 158 (12): 806–9. PMID 8108024 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8108024).
7. http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/things-you-need-to-know-about-swimming-during-menstruation-
4738858/
8. Cole EC, Cook CE (August 1998). "Characterization of infectious aerosols in health care facilities: an aid tofective
ef
engineering controls and preventive strategies".Am J Infect Control. 26 (4): 453–64. doi:10.1016/S0196-
6553(98)70046-X (https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0196-6553%2898%2970046-X) . PMID 9721404 (https://www.ncbi.nl
m.nih.gov/pubmed/9721404).
9. Central Maine Medical Center. "Why Don't We Do It In Our Sleeves"(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtnEwvUW
Do0). CoughSafe. CMMC, St. Mary's Hospital, Maine Medical Association . Retrieved 17 October 2016.
10. Adkinson NF Jr. (2003). "Phytomedicine".Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice(6th ed.). ISBN 978-0-323-
01425-0.
11. Xenophon. Anabasis. Book 3, chapter 2, paragraph 9.
12. "Why Do We Say "Waheguru!" Every Time We Sneeze? Sikhing Answers – V"(http://www.sikhchic.com/sikhing_ans
wers/why_do_we_say_waheguru_every_time_we_sneeze_sikhing_answers_v) .
13. "Why do we say this when a person sneezes or hiccups?"(http://www.indiastudychannel.com/forum/134162-Why-do
-we-say-this-when-a-person-sneezes-or-hiccups.aspx)
.
14. 'Beniezen' (http://gtb.inl.nl/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=WNT&id=M007036)definition (1898) INL. Usage (http
s://books.google.be/books?id=sP9ySIDdZ-cC&pg=P A1060&lpg=PA1060&dq=%22+is+beniesd%22&source=bl&ots=
pjODNaJSej&sig=dkDgIGid9pyq_lqfdp7GziEGrOE&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22%20is%20benies
d%22) in a poem by Guido Gezelle
15. Wylie A (1927). "Rhinology and laryngology in literature and Folk-Lore".The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 42
(2): 81–87. doi:10.1017/S0022215100029959(https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0022215100029959) .
16. 《詩經·終風》 「寤言不寐，願言則嚏」
17. "Full text of "taleem-ud-deen" " (https://archive.org/stream/taleem-ud-deen/T
aleemuddin-TeachingsOfIslam-Maulana
MujaddidAshrafAliThanviRA_djvu.txt).
18. Tracey, Emma (5 July 2013)."Why deaf people sneeze silently"(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-23162903)
– via www.bbc.co.uk.
19. "Why Cats Sneeze" (http://pets.webmd.com/cats/why-cats-sneeze)
.
20. "My Pet Is Sneezing and Snorting. What's Going On?"(http://www.vetstreet.com/care/my-pet-is-sneezing-and-snorti
ng-whats-going-on).
21. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150517002223/http://www .keepingchickens.com/why-is-my-chicken-
sneezing/). Archived from the original (http://www.keepingchickens.com/why-is-my-chicken-sneezing/) on 2015-05-
17. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
22. "Sneezing and Yawning" (http://www.anapsid.org/sneeze.html).
23. Walker, Reena H., et al. "Sneeze to leave: African wild dogs (L ycaon pictus) use variable quorum thresholds
facilitated by sneezes in collective decisions." Proc. R. Soc. B. oVl. 284. No. 1862. The Royal Society, 2017.

Further reading
Cecil Adams (1987). "If you hold your eyelids open while sneezing, will your eyes pop out?".
The Straight Dope.
Barbara Mikkelson (2001). "Bless You!" Urban Legends Reference Pages.
Tom Wilson, M.D. (1997) "Why do we sneezewhen we look at the sun?"MadSci Network.
Robert Sheckley (1956), "Protection," a short story about sneezing

External links
The Origins of Popular Superstitions and Customs– T. Sharper Knowlson (1910), a book that sted
li many
superstitions and customs that are still common today
.
Cold and flu advice (NHS Direct)
Ancient Sneezing: A Gift from the Gods– Elaine Fantham, Professor of Classics atPrinceton on NPR Radio.
Why do my eyes close every time I sneeze?M.G., Sherborn The Boston Globe

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