Why do people sneeze?
Before finding out the main reasons for the appearance of this condition, it is worth talking about the process of its occurrence. Why do people sneeze?
This symptom is not an independent pathology. It always occurs due to exposure to a stimulus. Before sneezing, a person feels itching and itching in the nose. After this, a sharp short exhalation occurs (usually through the nose) and a deep inhalation. At this moment, contraction of the vocal cords and tension of the palatine tonsils occurs. The person’s tongue is pressed against the upper palate and then a sharp exhalation follows.
Influence of external stimulus
Why do people sneeze many times? Most often, such a reflex appears when an external stimulus occurs. Such a substance can be dust, sand, a strong odor or any perfume. It is not uncommon for people to sneeze from cigarette smoke or exposure to carbon dioxide.
In this case, the irritant enters the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. She gets irritated and starts itching. Next, the person takes that short breath that pushes the external stimulus deeper. After this, a sharp exhalation occurs, which is accompanied by a sneeze and getting rid of the foreign substance.
Cold
The cause of a sneeze may be a banal illness. It can be viral or bacterial. Acute or chronic. If inflammation occurs in the nasopharynx, then it is there that the protective mechanism begins to work.
During illness, the nasal mucosa swells and produces large amounts of mucus. It's called a runny nose. This pattern allows you to clean the nasal passages and rid the patient of bacteria and viruses in a short time. Often the mucus that forms dries out and small crusts form in the nose. They cause sinus irritation and sneezing.
In addition, a person may sneeze at the very beginning of the development of the disease. This is caused by small viruses or bacteria actively multiplying in the nasal passages. The mucous membrane begins to become irritated and a reflexive inhalation and exhalation occurs.
Allergic reaction
The cause of a person's sneezing may be a simple allergy. Most often, pathology occurs in the off-season, when various plants, flowers and trees begin to bloom. Pollen from them can fly in the air and enter the nasal passages.
Allergies can also be chronic. In this case, the patient often has a stuffy nose. This is caused by slight swelling of the mucous membrane. Antihistamines and drops that have a vasoconstrictor effect are used for treatment. After using such formulations, the swelling decreases sharply and mucus secretion increases. Because of this, irritation of the membranes and sneezing occurs.
Useful tips
Under no circumstances should you sneeze into yourself, because when you sneeze, all the smallest harmful organisms leave the body.
When you sneeze into yourself, they are retained, which can lead to inflammatory effects in the nasopharynx.
If sneezing is caused by colds, then it is better to wash the nasal cavity with a saline substance. With this method you will not only get rid of mucus, but you can also protect yourself from the most severe consequences. After rinsing, you will ease nasal breathing and get rid of dry nose. To prepare a saline solution, you need to take a glass of boiled water, add a teaspoon of salt and a couple of drops of iodine. For instillation, you can use vasoconstrictors and drugs with antiviral effects.
If you have allergies, you can use antihistamines and nasal sprays with hormones.
Allergy sufferers can undergo specific immunotherapy. It consists of injecting the patient with an increasing dose of the allergen to which he is hypersensitive. This treatment allows you to reduce sensitivity to this allergen. If possible, contact with the allergen should be avoided.
In children, sneezing occurs mainly for the same reasons as in adults. Parents should pay attention to the symptoms that appear in babies.
The result of an allergic disease in children can be bronchial asthma. If several times during feeding the baby greedily grabs and later spits out the pacifier, and sniffles between feedings, these are signs that the baby has developed allergic rhinitis. When a child consumes an allergen (cow's milk protein), it causes swelling of the mucous membrane, which blocks the nasal passages.
Sneezing in newborns
Often new mothers complain that their baby sneezes often. Usually this is not a sign of any pathology or cold. This reaction occurs for the following reasons.
While in the womb, the baby is completely immersed in water. There is also fluid in his nasal passages and throat. After birth, the active work of the respiratory system begins. The body tries to naturally get rid of the fluid, which often dries out and leads to the formation of those very irritating crusts.
Traditional methods
Sneezing can be transmitted to another person if the underlying cause is an infectious disease. Healing with medicinal products is often accompanied by folk remedies, the value of which is sometimes extremely high. For a stuffy nose in the absence of fever, inhalations are advised.
For the procedure, pour about two glasses of hot water into a stable container, add three drops of bactericidal essential oil - eucalyptus, mint, juniper. Covered with a blanket, they begin to inhale and exhale medicinal vapors for 10 minutes, passing them through the nose. To get rid of infections that have affected the upper respiratory tract and increase immunity, prepare useful herbal infusions.
Suitable raw materials include fireweed flowers, chamomile, and elecampane. A tablespoon is kept in ml of boiling water under a towel for 30 minutes. Divide into three servings and drink a day. Not hot tea with a slice of lemon, raspberry jam, honey, and a small amount of ginger root is always considered effective against colds. Fenugreek seeds are beneficial.
You will need two tablespoons of raw material per ml of water. After boiling for 10 minutes, remove the pan from the stove, wrap it in a terry towel and leave for 45 minutes. Then comes filtering. Drink ml of decoction day and evening. Herbal baths relieve sneezing caused by a runny nose. Infuse two tablespoons of sage, birch leaves or yarrow in ml of boiling water for an hour.
After straining, pour it into water. Take a bath for 15 minutes. If you want to speed up the healing, use aloe juice for instillation. Three times a day, two drops are injected into each nostril. Small children and children under 12 years old should dilute the juice with warm boiled water. For the age group over 12 years old, the proportion is: Drops from beet juice are made using the same scheme.
You can instill the consistency of menthol and camphor oils, taken in similar quantities. The warming effect of pepper is known. If the sneezing becomes sick, use a pepper patch. Before going to bed, glue it to the soles, put on cotton socks. At the first sign of a cold, indicated by sneezing, beat a small piece of laundry soap into a foam. Dip a cotton swab into the foam and carefully lubricate the internal cavities of the nose.
After three days, relief comes, and the runny nose does not develop further. Rinsing the nose facilitates good cleansing of mucus and pathogens. To do this, you should take a saline solution into a bulb or a special device. To do this, stir half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of boiling water cooled to warm.
In any situation, you should first consult a doctor.
Reaction to external conditions
Why do people sneeze in the sun? Sometimes it is common for a person to sneeze at the moment when he looks sharply at the sunlight. An ordinary lamp can also act as an irritant. Sneezing begins when a person moves from a dark room into a light one. Why does this happen?
When looking at light or the sun, irritation of the membranes of the eyes begins. This often leads to watery eyes. It is worth noting that it is not always noticeable. However, the lacrimal glands are strongly related to the functioning of the sinuses. When the eyes are irritated, a similar reaction occurs in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Because of this, a person feels the urge to sneeze and does so.
A similar reflex also appears when a person enters a cold room from a warm room and vice versa. In this case, a change in temperature is to blame.
Diagnostics. Who to contact
When contacting a medical center with complaints of prolonged sneezing, diagnostic examinations are prescribed in order to identify the underlying cause that provoked this phenomenon. A similar problem should be addressed to an otolaryngologist. If during examination he reveals cold pathologies, then traditionally additional tests are not prescribed.
The rhinoscopy technique is used. Using an optical device equipped with mirrors, the doctor examines the nasopharynx and nasal mucous membranes. Since a rearward view is provided, the doctor, based on the imaging results, can draw up a sufficiently complete picture to make a diagnosis. In a situation where there is a suspicion that sneezing is developing against the background of allergic rhinitis, it will be necessary to do a special test to determine exactly the type of allergen. After receiving the test results, the diagnosis will be made by an allergist.
Summarizing
You now know the main reasons why a person sneezes. This symptom is not always a sign of illness. Why don't people sneeze in their sleep? This is due to the fact that during rest a person’s breathing works slightly differently. However, with a cold, contraction of the vocal cords and reflex exhalation of air can still occur. Be healthy!
Frequent sneezing occurs when you have allergies or a serious illness. Sneezing is a natural protective reaction. If the body is affected by an allergen, the mucous membranes become irritated, and as a result, the person involuntarily sneezes. Some people are interested in why I sneeze nonstop and how to get rid of it.
The sneezing reflex is a natural reaction that ensures the patency of the respiratory system and the penetration of oxygen into the lungs. This reaction occurs even before birth and is detected in the unborn baby already at 21 weeks of pregnancy.
and remains with the person until the end of his life.
Thanks to sneezing, one of the important protective missions is performed - the mucous membrane of the respiratory system is cleansed
, which involves the oral muscles, diaphragm, intercostal muscular system, rectus abdominis muscle, lungs and sphincters.
Prevention
Sneezing cannot be considered a safe process. During the release of tiny saliva and mucus, infection is transmitted. It is important to learn to follow simple preventive rules to avoid sneezing:
- do not be in drafts;
- do not overcool;
- every morning, when planning to go out, choose clothes according to weather conditions;
- avoid contact with people who sneeze;
- during periods of outbreaks, wear a protective mask;
- get a flu shot once a year in early autumn;
- do physical exercises once a day;
- wash your hands with soap several times a day;
- take long walks;
- systematically carry out the function of rinsing the nose with saline solution.
Allergic sneezing can be avoided if the allergen is known.
In any situation, it is important to strengthen the immune system, get rid of bad habits, and plan a balanced menu.
It is generally accepted that frequent sneezing and runny nose are caused by a cold infection. But this is not always the case. Therefore, without understanding the reasons, a person can begin the wrong healing. And this, in turn, will not give any result at best. Let's look at the reasons causing this symptom.
Why is the sneeze reflex formed?
Sneezing occurs when the mucous membrane that lines the sinuses is excited. The causes of sneezing in adults, as well as in children, may lie in allergies to the presence of:
- fluff, dust, pet hair (so-called “dust factors”);
- fungi, pollen, keratinized skin particles (allergens).
Important.
Volatile substances such as perfumes and tobacco smoke can also be the causative agent.
Sneezing can occur due to a sharp change in temperature (for example, if a person goes out into the cold from a warm building), or sudden exposure to bright sunlight that forces the eyes to close their eyes.
Often the sneezing reflex is a symptom of an allergic and acute respiratory viral disease.
Female representatives in the prenatal position often complain of a sneezing reflex and difficulty breathing. They experience swelling of the nasal mucous membranes, and their health worsens. This is due to changes in hormonal levels, this phenomenon is called “pregnant rhinitis”.
Sneezing many times in a row
It happens that a sneezing reflex appears in the morning, even in the absence of allergies - this is a non-allergic runny nose. Why does a person sneeze many times in a row? This means that a person has a violation of the respiratory process and self-cleaning of the nose. This phenomenon occurs if the nasal septum is deviated or there is a polyp.
A sneezing reflex if the nose is stuffy means that a person has one of the following ailments:
, ARVI, chickenpox, allergies or rhinitis in a pregnant woman. Sneezing occurs due to many reasons.
Frequent sneezing is often associated with the flu virus. However, with such an illness, the patient exhibits, in addition to frequent sneezing, the following symptoms:
- elevated temperature;
- Availability .
Influenza is an acute respiratory infection, and over time, complications appear in the form of additional symptoms. If you start treatment on time, you can speed up the healing process.
During allergic rhinitis, in addition to the sneezing reflex, a person has a stuffy nose and a runny nose. To cure sneezing, you should determine the irritant that causes this condition and limit contact with it.
During a cold, frequent sneezing is a completely natural phenomenon; it appears when the nasal mucous membranes are excited. With a cold, inflammation occurs that affects the upper respiratory organs. This happens when the patient is hypothermic or when you are in direct contact with a sick person. You can catch a cold quickly if your immune system is weakened.
If you have a cold, the following symptoms appear:
- elevated temperature;
- headache;
- bad feeling:
- presence of cough;
- stuffy nose;
- frequent sneezing reflex.
Such symptoms need to be treated with medications. After eliminating the disease, the sneezing reflex will disappear by itself.
The main thing is that the therapeutic methods are selected correctly.
Some people wonder: why do I constantly sneeze but don’t get sick? A similar phenomenon is possible in the following situations:
- In the morning, a frequent sneezing reaction may occur in the presence of vasomotor rhinitis, if there is diarrhea in the nasal sinuses. This happens if the nose is injured, resulting in a deviated septum. This anomaly is sometimes congenital.
- When bright sunlight gets into the eyes
, which leads to irritation of the nasal mucous membranes and sneezing from the light. When looking sharply at bright lighting, the trigeminal nerve, which is very close to the optic nerve, is affected, and it exhibits a negative reaction to bright lighting. A signal is transmitted to the brain, and sneezing occurs. - In some cases, frequent sneezing occurs if a person has hypersensitivity of the mucous membranes
. If a person often sneezes for no reason, then it is quite possible that an allergy begins to form. In this case, you should consult with your doctor so that a diagnosis can be made and the source of the sneezing can be determined.
Sneezing - causes, symptoms, treatment
Aaapchih, - "". A similar situation is far from rare in the life of every person, but let’s figure it out: is it worth worrying about every “sneeze” or is there nothing like that here? And to lighten the mood, leave in your stories with sneezes, which may have had a humorous part.
What is sneezing?
Sneezing , or as it is more often called sneezing , is a physiological act that performs the body’s protective function of removing foreign substances, microorganisms and other factors that irritate the nasopharyngeal mucosa from the upper respiratory tract.
In fact, this is the body’s response to an irritant, which in most cases are infections, allergens, dust, and pollen.
At the moment of sneezing, a person feels a certain itching in the nasal passages, after which a short sigh is taken, the tongue is pressed to the palate and the body reflexively releases the irritating “factor” into the environment through the nasopharynx using forced exhalation. Almost always, along with the process of sneezing, a copious amount of liquid is released from the nasopharynx.
It is worth noting that sneezing and coughing are very similar in purpose, and the differences are only in the localization of this process.
In addition, sneezing, as well as coughing, are very often symptoms of various diseases, mainly of an infectious nature, of the ENT organs (chickenpox, sinusitis, influenza, ARVI and other acute respiratory infections).
How it works?
The entire process of sneezing is coordinated in the medulla oblongata with the help of the trigeminal, hypoglossal, vagus and other nerves - it is carried out according to the following chain:
- Feeling of itching or tickling in the nasal cavity;
- When you inhale, the lungs are filled with a large amount of air;
- The soft palate reflexively rises upward, the back of the tongue is adjacent to the hard palate, which is why a barrier is formed between the nasopharynx and the mouth, the anterior arches of the pharynx contract, the eyes close spontaneously;
- At the same moment, the muscles of the larynx, diaphragm, intercostal and rectus abdominis muscles contract, which creates high pressure in the chest and abdomen;
- The body rapidly, at a speed of up to 120 m/s, pushes out an air flow of up to 12 l/s, while microdrops of saliva and mucus are released with the air at a distance of up to 3-5 m!
Please note that it is undesirable to restrain this flow, because... There have been cases when people's mucous membranes of the nasopharynx were injured during a strong act of sneezing.
Now do you understand why airborne droplets are the main method of infecting surrounding people and why it is not recommended to be in crowded places during acute respiratory infections? One sneeze can be enough to infect several people at once who are traveling with a carrier of germs, for example, on the subway or bus.
Causes of sneezing
Now let's find out what can tickle the nose there so much that it causes sneezing.
The most common reasons are:
- Infections – viruses (influenza, parainfluenza, measles, chickenpox), bacteria (staphylococci, pneumococci and other streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae), fungi, protozoa and others;
- Allergens – dust, plant pollen (ragweed), animal hair, mold, poplar fluff, skin flakes, ground pepper, snuff, tobacco smoke and other combustion products;
- As a reaction of the nasal mucosa to anti-runny nose drops, incl. plant-based - from aloe, kalanchoe, cyclamen;
- Chemical fumes - powders, perfumes, hairspray, deodorants, air fresheners;
- A sharp change in temperature from cold to warm or vice versa - when entering a room from a frosty street or in the opposite direction;
- Changes in hormonal levels, which often causes this act in pregnant women in their last stages;
- Bright light can also be an irritating factor - you may have noticed that when you suddenly open your eyes into a sunny room in the morning or leave a dimly lit room onto a sunny street, “sneezes” can occur along with tears.
Symptoms of sneezing
If a sneeze occurs without a runny nose and/or fever, it is most likely the result of an allergic reaction of the nasal mucosa to some substance. Otherwise, they talk about the development of some disease or pathology.
The most common symptoms of sneezing, which may indicate the appearance or presence of a disease or pathology:
- Runny nose, copious discharge from the nasal cavity of mucous clear liquid, which can over time turn yellow and green, sometimes mixed with blood;
- Redness of the eyes, increased lacrimation;
- Increased body temperature, periodic chilling;
- Weakness, increased fatigue, feeling of weakness and bad mood;
- Pain of various localizations - headache, muscle, joint, throat, chest, stomach;
- Enlarged lymph nodes;
- Cough;
- Hives and other types of skin rashes;
- In case of intoxication from infection, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea may occur.
What diseases do the above symptoms indicate?
Diagnosis of sneezing
A standard set of tests for frequent sneezing and the presence of other symptoms listed above are:
Which doctor should I contact?
- Therapist;
- Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT);
- Pediatrician.
Treatment of sneezing
What to do when sneezing and how to treat it? Due to the wide variety of causes of sneezing - physiological and pathological, the approach to this issue should be comprehensive and considered by a doctor.
Single sneezes usually do not require medication. It is enough to identify and remove factors that irritate the nasal mucosa. The presence of additional symptoms, which we talked about a little earlier, requires medical consultation, especially for young children and pregnant women.
Comprehensive measures for pathological sneezing may include:
1. Removal of the exciting factor.2. Drug treatment.3. Symptomatic treatment.
4. Diet.
Removing the sneezing factor
In many cases, to eliminate single attacks of sneezing, it is enough to perform a number of simple steps:
- Change bedding, especially down and feather pillows, in which dust mites can grow over time and provoke the physiological act discussed today;
- Do wet cleaning at your place of residence or work 2-3 times a week;
- When working with highly active substances that tend to evaporate, as well as during construction work, use personal protective equipment - masks, respirators and others.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment of sneezing is aimed at eliminating the pathogenic factor - infection, allergy.
Thus, for infectious diseases, depending on the pathogen, antibiotics are used (for bacterial infections), antiviral drugs (for viral infections), antimycotic drugs (for fungal infections).
For allergies, antihistamines are used - Claritin, Loratadine, Diazolin, Eden and others.
Symptomatic treatment
Symptomatic treatment involves the use of medications that relieve the severity of the symptoms of the disease, one of which is sneezing. This facilitates the course of the disease (the root cause of sneezing), helps to recover faster and prevent serious health complications, for example, at a high temperature of 40 ° C and above.
Rinsing helps to cleanse the nasal passages of mucus and germs. Well-proven products for these purposes include soda-salt solution and Aquamaris.
To relieve fever and pain, NSAIDs are prescribed - Nurofen, Paracetamol, Nimesil.
To improve nasal breathing with severe nasal congestion, vasoconstrictor drops are prescribed - “Farmazolin”, “Nazivin”, “Otrivin”.
It is also recommended to drink plenty of water - ordinary clean water and plant-based teas that contain vitamin C. Drinking helps to increase the body's defenses and remove waste products of infection from it.
Tea with raspberries, viburnum, rose hips and other medicinal plants are beneficial.
Diet
Nutrition is an important factor in the treatment and prevention of various colds.
During this period, it is strongly recommended to eat greens, vegetables, fruits and other foods rich in vitamins and macro-microelements. Thus, the body tolerates the disease more easily and recovers faster.
It is recommended to limit spicy, fatty and fried foods, alcohol and other hard-to-digest foods during this period.
Preventing sneezing
To prevent sneezing, the following main points can be highlighted:
- Do wet cleaning in the premises at least 2-3 times a day, and do not forget to ventilate them well;
- Change bed linen promptly;
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene;
- And do not use the same utensils in the form of cups and other items for 2 or more people at work.
Interesting Facts
In some cultures, when a person sneezes, they say, “Bless you!”
There is a sign of sneezing - when a person makes a “sneeze” they say that this is a confirmation of the truth.
Health, peace and goodness to you!
Source: https://medicina.dobro-est.com/chihane-prichinyi-simptomyi-lechenie.html
How is it treated
What to do if a person sneezes often? Initially, you need to get tested to determine if there is an allergy. If an allergen is identified, the doctor tells you how to improve your daily life and eat right. To treat allergic rhinitis, homeopathic medicines are often prescribed.
.
Typically, the sneezing reflex should be treated when the patient has developed a stable allergy to the irritant and lasts long enough. Often, irritation occurs due to polyps. In this case, it is very important to correctly identify the allergen that makes a person feel uncomfortable.
.
The main allergen is identified using certain tests that help select the desired effect on the body. You should not self-medicate if you have a frequent sneezing reflex.
There is a high probability that the patient can use drugs that will stop the symptoms, and in the future the allergy will appear repeatedly again.
In addition, frequent sneezing should not be treated with vasoconstrictor drops.
. Such uncontrolled therapy can provoke the development of complications and stimulate other ailments in the nasopharynx.
What's the benefit?
While sneezing is a symptom of various diseases, it can be beneficial. Providing a preventive effect, ridding the body of pathogenic microbes and foreign particles. Especially in children, this urge needs to be evoked from time to time, because they simply cannot blow their nose. There are many methods to induce sneezing.
They can simply be from mechanical stress:
- cotton swab;
- feather;
- massaging your forehead above your nose.
Medicinal use:
- saline;
- aloe juice
- Kalanchoe juice.
Herbal sneeze catalysts have not only a preventive effect. They create an anti-inflammatory effect.
Frequent sneezing can be a symptom of allergies and the common cold. In most cases, this symptom is simply eliminated by adjusting everyday life and does not require contacting a specialist, but there are also cases in which allergic rhinitis and frequent sneezing are a symptom of complications of severe pathologies.
Is sneezing when you have a cold good or bad?
On the one hand, sneezing itself is a protective mechanism that prevents further penetration of the influenza or ARVI pathogen into the body and mechanically removes the allergen and infectious mucus. Therefore, sneezing benefits the body and promotes a speedy recovery.
On the other hand, if you sneeze incorrectly, that is, cover your nose with your fingers while sneezing, then the infection does not come out, but enters the paranasal sinuses and ears. This is how you can get sinusitis and otitis media.
In addition, when you sneeze, a viral or bacterial agent, along with saliva, flies in the air at a distance of a couple of meters. To avoid infecting others, you should cover your mouth with a tissue when sneezing.