Thursday, March 28, 2024

What’s with Sneezing?

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Nick Nunes

Sneezing is one of those reflexes that we all share. So many things can cause a sneeze and there are those around the world who are constant victims of sneezing fits where one or two sneezes just aren’t enough, and they rapidly devolve into embodying the eponym of one of Snow White’s dwarfs.

A sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air. Whenever something interacts with your nasal mucosa (that’s the membrane that lines the interior of your nose) a sneeze, or several, can be triggered as the body’s way of expelling whatever intruder has entered.

Sneezing is involuntary and can be triggered by a surprising number of reasons, some of which are barely understood at all. The most common causes for sneezing come from exposure to an allergen. Allergy sneezes are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment Dust, mould, pollen, pets, smoke, scents, spices—any number of inhalable substances can trigger a response of sternutation (a sneeze). Commonly, sneezing is triggered by respiratory infection, allergic rhinitis, physical irritants, chemical irritants, and nonallergic

rhinitis. The reason we sneeze is to expel whatever irritant has entered our system but one of the most curious and least understood causes for sneezing is called

autosomal compelling helio-ophthalmic outburst (ACHOO) syndrome.

ACHOO is simply a clever way of creating a funny acronym for sneezing that is induced by exposure to bright lights. If you ever start sneezing when going from a dimly lit area, having adjusted to the low light, into an area of brightness, you might be a part of the 15-35 per cent of people around the world that endure the epically named ACHOO syndrome.

What scientists and doctors do know about ACHOO is that, “ACHOO syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. As such, if one parent is affected, their child has a 50% chance of inheriting the syndrome,” according to Medical Genetics Summaries. Sneezing due to the effects of ACHOO falls into the category of physical irritant though this is probably the least understood phenomena that causes the sneeze reflex. Another physical irritant that can cause a spontaneous sneeze is change in temperature.

When you’ve spent a good amount of time in a cold environment and then step out into the warm Caribbean sun, a hearty cause for a ‘bless you’ might follow the rapid change in environmental temperature.

Unlike other sneeze triggers, the light and temperature reactions have no real guard against their intrusive nature. However, for most others sneezing ,our nose hair is the front line defence against invading particles.

According to a Health Line article medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH, “When the delicate lining of your nose experiences the first tinge of a foreign substance, it sends an electric signal to your brain. This signal tells your brain that the nose needs to clear itself. The brain signals your body that it’s time for a sneeze, and your body responds by preparing itself for the impending contraction. In most cases, the eyes are forced shut, the tongue moves to the roof of the mouth, and the muscles brace for the sneeze. All of this happens in just a few seconds.”

Most recently, scientists have found that sneezing is a way for the body to reset the environment of your nasal cavity. A good sneeze is meant to clear out the pathways and return your nose to its factory setting.

As for the many that suffer from allergies, the sneezing mechanism comes from immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that attach to an allergen, and subsequently result in the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine from mast cells which reside within the

mucosa of your nasal cavity.

That release of histamine is exactly why those with allergies take antihistamines to combat the onslaught of sneezing themselves silly. The symptoms of allergies can present similarly to that of having a common cold.

Respiratory tract infections are another leading cause of the sudden onset of the sneeze. When you’ve got the common cold, your nose has taken in a virus whose number one call sign is giving you a runny or stuffy nose. The excess production of fluid in the nasal cavity causes blood vessels and mucous membranes within the nose to swell, thus triggering the sneezy response.

When a cold virus infects nasal cells, the body releases its own natural inflammatory mediators which cause a natural dilation of the blood vessels and triggers the sneeze. Catching a cold induces the type of sneezing that stems from non-allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis is simply an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose.

Humidity, noxious fumes, hormone imbalances, and hormone-containing medicines all have the potential to trigger non-allergic rhinitis.

Much like the ACHOO syndrome, another strange and not completely understood trigger of sternutation is arousal. That’s right; getting turned on and even obtaining an orgasm can lead to a sneeze.

According to a study published in 2008 in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Mahmood F Bhutta, a Specialist Registrar ENT Surgery and Harold Maxwell, a Retired Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Psychiatrist, “Our review suggests that it may be much more common than expected.”

However, the pair found that links between sexual excitement and sneezing had been highlighted by studies published as early as 1875. The 2008 article also afforded, “From the sporadic reports in the medical literature, we surmised that the phenomenon of sneezing in response to sexual ideation or in response to orgasm is more common than recognised. As this is a problem that does not lead to morbidity and may be seen as embarrassing to discuss it may be underreported.”

Whatever the cause of the sneeze you experience, it’s important to consult your doctor if major or prolonged irritation occurs. Change in colour of the mucus, bleeding, or any other abnormalities should be brought to the attention of your physician immediately.

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