Sneezing is a slightly annoying but normal part of life. Whether you are battling a cold, outside during allergy season or in a dusty room, we’ve all had a case of the “achoos.”
Sometimes, the buildup to a sneeze can happen without the main event. Have you ever felt the prickling, irritating sensation of a sneeze coming on, but can’t get one out?
If you want to sneeze but can’t, is it possible to make yourself sneeze on command? Doctors explain what a sneeze is, why it happens, and which techniques you can try to make yourself sneeze.
What is a sneeze?
A sneeze is an involuntary, forceful, explosive flow of air through the nose and mouth, Dr. Andrew Lane, ENT-otolaryngologist and the the Director of the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center, tells TODAY.com.
“Sneezing is a reflex reaction to the lining of the nose, the mucous membranes, (being) irritated,” says Lane. When the sensory fibers of these membranes in the nose or throat become irritated, this stimulates the endings of the trigeminal nerve, a main cranial nerve which provides sensation to the face.
The nerve then sends a message to the brain, which tells the body to sneeze to clear the nose and throat passages, Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, a family medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic, tells TODAY.com.
This sets off a chain of events; the lungs pull in air, the vocal cords close, pressure builds up, then the vocal cords open and the air is suddenly released, shooting out, Lane explains. During a sneeze, the eyes also close and people often make a characteristic “achoo” sound. “You’re not conscious of it, it’s a reflex arc,” says Lane.
A sneeze can travel up to 100 miles per hour, according to the American Lung Association.
What triggers a sneeze?
Anything that irritates the mucous membranes in the nose and stimulates the trigeminal nerve can cause a sneeze, the experts note. Common causes of sneezing include:
- Allergens (pollen, dust, pet dander)
- Infections (colds and influenza)
- Chemicals or fumes
- Air pollution
- Perfumes or cologne
- Spicy food
It’s also possible for stress or strong emotions to trigger sneezing through the release of histamines, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Bright light can also trigger sneezing for certain people. “It’s called a photic sneeze, which (happens) when you look at the sun or any bright light,” says Lane. The photic sneeze reflex is an inherited genetic trait which affects about 25–30% of the population, Lane adds.
Sneezing uncontrollably in response to bright light is called ACHOO syndrome, which stands for “Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helioopthalmic Outburst,” per the National Institutes of Health.
While sneezing can be annoying or inconvenient, it isn’t usually a sign of a serious health problem.
Is sneezing good for you?
Yes, sneezing is good for you, the experts say. Sneezing helps to remove any irritant, allergen, pathogen, or particles in the nose or and throat that the body does not want there, Bracamonte notes. “It’s a defensive response … to protect the airways and the lungs,” says Lane.
However, sneezing too forcefully or too much over a period of time could cause problems, says Bracamonte. Holding in a sneeze can also create significantly more pressure, which could lead to injury. Potential risks of forceful sneezing include a ruptured eardrum, ear infections, broken blood vessels in the eye or muscle strain, the experts note. However, these complications are rare. “Overall, a sneeze is a good thing,” says Bracamonte.
How to make yourself sneeze
While sneezing usually occurs without us having to think or do anything, it is possible to make yourself sneeze on command. If you feel like you need to sneeze, you can try to stimulate the trigeminal nerve to trigger a sneeze using the following techniques:
Tickle your nose
The first method the experts recommend is trying to stimulate the sensory fibers in the nose by gently tickling the inside of the nostrils.
“You can tickle your nose using cotton swab, some type of feather, or something soft,” says Bracamonte. You can also try rolling the end of a tissue into a point.
However, the experts warn not to insert anything too far into the nose — a light tickle just inside the nostril should suffice.
Massage your nose
Another trick to help yourself sneeze is massaging the nose, says Bracamonte. Using your fingers, gently squeeze the bridge of your nose and massage in a downward motion until you feel a sneeze coming on.
You can also massaging the roof of your mouth with your tongue.
Pull on a nose hair
If you’re able to reach a nose hair, pulling on it can irritate the mucous membrane lining the nose, which can stimulate the trigeminal nerve and trigger a sneeze, the experts note.
However, Bracamonte says he wouldn’t recommend plucking out nose hairs every time you want to sneeze. The hairs lining the nose act as air filters to catch particles and debris so they don’t end up in your airway or lungs, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Tweeze your eyebrows
Sometimes, tweezing eyebrow hairs can cause sneezing, says Bracamonte. This is because the pain of plucking an eyebrow hair can stimulate the nerves in the face, including the trigeminal nerve.
Smell something strong
“You can smell something strong to cause a sneeze reaction,” says Bracamonte. Overpowering scents or odors can also irritate the airways and trigger a sneeze.
Try smelling perfume, cologne, spices such as ground pepper, herbs, or scented candles. Sniffing hot, spicy food may also trigger a sneeze.
Look up at the light
Not everyone has the photic sneeze reflex, but looking into bright light will likely do the trick if you do. It’s not clear exactly why light triggers sneezing, says Lane, but it is thought to stimulate the nerves around the eye, which may irritate the trigeminal nerve.
Next time you want to make yourself sneeze, try looking up towards a bright light. A quick glance will usually do, and avoid staring directly at the sun or any light sources, says Bracamonte.
How to sneeze properly
There is a proper way to sneeze, both for your own health and the health of people around you.
First, it’s important to let the sneeze out. The purpose of a sneeze is to protect the body by clearing the nasal cavity, says Bracamonte. Therefore, you want to allow that air and whatever comes along with it to exit the body.
Avoid trying to hold in a sneeze or closing the nose or mouth, as this can rapidly increase the pressure of a sneeze, says Lane.
While sneezing, the experts recommend taking steps to protect others. Sneezing is a very efficient way to spread viruses and other germs, says Lane. These include the common cold, flu, strep throat, and pneumonia, per the Cleveland Clinic.
One sneeze can produce up to 100,000 respiratory droplets, per the American Lung Association. These can travel several feet or more.
When you sneeze, be sure to:
- Cover sneezes with a tissue or your elbow
- Discard the tissue
- Wash your hands after
When to see a doctor
If you aren’t able to sneeze on occasion and it isn’t causing any other issues, it’s probably nothing to be worried about. However, if you find that you can’t sneeze consistently or are experiencing other symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider.
Chronic nasal irritation and congestion can affect the sneezing reflex and rarely, neurological problems can cause sneezing abnormalities, the experts note.
On the other hand, if you sneeze excessively and it’s disruptive to your life, it’s probably time to see a physician, Lane notes.
Sneezing can be a symptom of many conditions, from pet allergies to viral infections. A doctor can help get to the root of the problem and treat the underlying cause, which can treat the sneezing.
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