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. Functional and less scary, but more, well, boring?
World Record for Most Sneezes
According to common lore, a 12-year-old in England named Donna Griffiths holds the longest attack of sneezing on record. Apparently, she sneezed for over 977 days between January 1981 and September 1983. At first she sneezed every minute, but as the days moved into weeks and years her sneezes occurred about every five minutes.
What causes sneezing?
Common causes of sneezing include:
- Nasal irritants like dust, pepper, powders, pollens
- Viral infections like the common cold
- Drug withdrawal
- Corticosteroid inhalation
- Exposure to sunlight (this is known as the photic sneeze reflex)
Are men's sneezes more forceful than women's?
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 dependent on a number of variables whether or not men sneeze more forcefully than women.
Does the heart stop when we sneeze?
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.
Is sneezing life-threatening?
No. 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!
