What is a Sneeze

A sneeze is something we’ve all probably experienced at some point. It is basically a sudden, usually forceful, burst of air through the nose and mouth. But did you know there are two parts to a sneeze?

  1. The ‘tickle’ – When irritating particles, such dust or pollen, are detected by the sensitive lining of the nose, messages are sent to the brain to alert the ‘sneeze centre’ then all work together to produce an explosive burst of air through your nose and mouth, hopefully expelling the particles or irritants causing the problem.
  2. The ‘sneeze’ – Once the sneeze centre receives enough messages, the second phase is triggered:
    • You close your eyes
    • You take a deep breath in
    • Your chest, stomach and throat muscles, along with your diaphragm and vocal cords

Why do we sneeze?

There are a variety of things that can trigger sneezing, including:

  • Allergies such as hayfever where sneezing can be accompanied by other troublesome symptoms such as a blocked nose or runny nose, and itching
  • Infections such as a cold or the flu
  • Environmental triggers such as breathing in dust, air pollution, dry or cold air, or chemical irritants at work

For some people, sneezing may be triggered by other factors such as bright lights, hormonal changes or certain medications.

Why is it important to sneeze correctly?

Although sneezing helps protect your body, it’s also a very effective way to spread illnesses, especially those caused by respiratory viruses, such as a cold or the flu

A single sneeze can…

  • Create 40,000 small airborne droplets
  • That hang in the air for as long as 10 minutes
  • And can reach a distance of around 7-8 metres

…and that is why it is important if you sneeze to:

  • Sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow or sleeve if you don’t have a tissue to hand
  • Not sneeze into your hand
  • Try to turn your head away from other people when you sneeze or cough
  • Remember to clean your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

How to treat sneezing symptoms

While sneezing can be annoying, it’s not usually a serious problem and there are things you can do to try to prevent or treat the cause, including:

If an allergy is the cause:

If dry air is the issue, try a non-medicated saline nasal spray such as FLO Saline Plus or FLO Travel if you are on the go to help moisturise a dry, irritated nose FLO Nozoil helps relieve dry and crusting nasal tissue and also helps to reduce the effects of inflammation, allowing you to breathe easier.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if your sneezing is worrying you or you don’t know what is causing it. They will be able to advise you on treatments and lifestyle changes that may help.