Sneezing: What Are the Causes and when Should You See a Doctor?

Sneezing is one way the body's way of keeping us healthy. The air is full of particulate that could irritate the mucous membranes within the nose and throat. Sneezing is an immune system response; the immune system triggers the nervous system to tell the brain to remove foreign particles from the nasal passages and throat. The sneeze is a very efficient way to get unwanted allergens and germs out of the respiratory tract in order to keep us well.

Where does the sneeze come from?

The brain is equipped with a sneeze center; it is located in the brain stem. The brain works very fast to produce a sneeze. In just a fraction of a second a sneeze is triggered. The response to the sneeze trigger clamps down on the chest and throat muscles which forces air up through the respiratory tract. The eyes automatically shut, and the air travels out of the nose and mouth at approximately 100 miles per hour.

Causes of sneezing

We sneeze for different reasons. The sneeze center can be stimulated in many ways. The most often trigger is the dust, pollen and other allergens that we breathe into our respiratory tract. Other causes of sneezing include plucking the eyebrows, bright sunlight shining into the eyes, black pepper, perfume, and various household products. Some people sneeze when having sex or immediately after sex. Exercise may also cause a person to start sneezing. Sneezing during or after sex is believed to be caused by the parasympathetic nervous system. Strenuous exercise is believed to cause sneezing because the mouth and nose can get dry with rapid mouth breathing. When the air passages get dry, they can become irritated and the nerves there will trigger the sneeze response.

Carbon dioxide and sneezing

When we sneeze, we take in a lot of air and blow it out forcefully. We lose some of our carbon dioxide (CO2) when we sneeze. CO2 drives our breathing mechanism. Sneezing over and over again can disrupt the normal carbon dioxide level in our blood. Some people sneeze whenever they are exposed to smoke, pollen, perfume and other particulates in the air. The more you sneeze, the more you are likely to keep on sneezing because losing carbon dioxide will stimulate the sneezing reflex in the brain.

What can you take for sneezing?

Unless sneezing is a constant companion, you may not need to take anything at all. However, if you are sneezing frequently, you may want to ask your doctor or pharmacist about an antihistamine. If your sneezing is caused by an allergic response, an antihistamine should relieve your symptoms.

When to see a doctor about sneezing

You should contact your doctor immediately if you break out in hives or start swelling in the mouth and throat. In this case, sneezing could be a sign of an allergy. If you are having significant allergic response, you should see your medical professional as soon as possible. In fact, if your throat is closing off, dial 911 and get help immediately.

Conclusion

The sneeze is the body's way to clear the nasal passages and trachea. The sneeze is a very helpful mechanism to keep the immune system healthy; however, the sneeze center can go awry if the body's carbon dioxide level gets out of balance. If you continue sneezing for long periods of time, you should see your doctor to be evaluated for any obvious and underlying health conditions.

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Speed of sneeze

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