SINUS AND ALLERGY – WHAT MAKES US SNEEZE

Sneezing is a reflex – a normal, uncontrollable response to irritation inside the nose. It is the body’s way of getting rid of nasal irritants like dust.
 

When the inside of your nose is irritated, the brain sends out messages to various muscles throughout the body, which work together to produce the complex action of sneezing.
 

Colds and allergies often make us sneeze, but there are other triggers such as:

• Bright Light

One in four people are ‘photic sneezers’. This means they sneeze in response to sudden exposure to bright light. When a photic sneezer is suddenly exposed to bright light, scientists believe that the nerves in the eyes become active. They send signals to the brain, which mistakes the light for an irritant in the nose.

• Dust

Dust, mould, pollen and other allergens can make us sneeze. Allergies are the immune system’s reaction to substances that are typically harmless. One of the first lines of defence against allergy triggers is the nose—which is why we often sneeze when dust or pollen enters the nasal passages.

• Cold Air

A sudden blast of cold air, either from leaving a heated building and stepping into the cold outdoors or entering a cool building in a hot summer day, can trigger a sneeze. This happens because the sudden blast of cold air causes the membranes in the nose to become enlarged.

• Pepper

White, black, red and green peppercorns all contain a chemical called piperine, which irritates the nose and causes sneezing.
 

For short-term relief, decongestants can help relieve a blocked nose by curbing the swelling inside your nose and sinuses, helping you breathe more easily.