Sneeze

A sneeze is the semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the nose and mouth. An unimpeded sneeze sends two to five thousand bacteria-filled droplets into the air. The medical name for sneezing is sternutation.

Sneezing is generally caused by irritation in the passages of the nose. Pollens, house dust, and other particles are usually harmless, but when they irritate the nose the body responds by expelling them from the nasal passages. The nose mistakes strong odors, sudden chills, bright lights (see photic sneeze reflex), and even organisms in some people for nasal irritants, and it tries to defend itself with a sneeze.

It is almost impossible for a person to keep their eyelids open during a sneeze, although some rare individuals report having little if any trouble doing so. The reflex of shutting the eyes serves no obvious purpose: the nerves serving the eyes and the nose are closely related, and stimuli to the one often trigger some response in the other.

Beliefs about sneezing

In 400 BC the Athenian general Xenophon gave a dramatic oration exhorting his fellow soldiers to follow him to liberty or to death against the Persians. He spoke for an hour until a soldier underscored his conclusion with a sneeze. Thinking this sneeze a favorable sign from the gods, the Greeks made Xenophon general and followed his command.

Among the pagans of Flanders, a sneeze was an omen. When Saint Eligius (died 659/60) warned the pagans of Flanders against their druidical practices, according to his companion and biographer Ouen, he included the following: "Do not observe auguries or violent sneezing or pay attention to any little birds singing along the road. If you are distracted on the road or at any other work, make the sign of the cross and say your Sunday prayers with faith and devotion and nothing inimical can hurt you."

In Hungary, a sneeze that occurs after making a statement is sometimes interpreted as a confirmation by God that the statement was true.

It is a common belief in India and Pakistan that one sneezes if he remembers or is remembered by someone dear to him. Most Indians consider sneezing healthy, and the inability to sneeze to be cause for alarm. Psychology Today reports that Indian scientists have labeled an inability to sneeze "asneezia"; the people of India have long used snuff as a way to artificially induce the healthy sneeze.

According to an old Japanese belief, a sneeze is a sign that someone is talking about you.

Traditional responses to a sneeze

In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague in 590 AD (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's intercession. When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.

This custom persists among speakers of many languages. Common social responses to sneezes in English include "Bless you" and "Gesundheit" (German, "[Good] health [to you]").

Sneezing in Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark is usually replied to with "prosit"; "may it benefit" in Latin (although in Finland the reply is practically without exceptions "terveydeksi" - "for your good health"). This is similar to Ghana, where a sneeze is often responded to with the wish for "Good luck!"

In some parts of India, bystanders to a sneeze shout, "Live!" eliciting a response from the sneezer, "Live with you!" In South India, especially in Kerala, when someone sneezes it is customary to bless him. Often older people will say Ayyappa (A god in the Hindu religion) or ammey ("mother" in Kerala and Tamil Nadu) after sneezing or after hearing someone sneezing; and they will tell the sneezer that he is being talked about by someone dear to him.

The response in Turkey to a sneeze is similar to that in India. People often say 'live long,' or 'live well,' and the response is 'All together' or 'Same to you.'

In Islamic society, a sneezer generally thanks God by saying "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to God), since Islam encourages remembering God in all situations. This is usually responded to with "Yarhamukallah" (may God bestow his mercy on you) by anyone in earshot of the sneezer.

In Chinese cultures, there is traditionally no response to a sneeze. However, occasionally the phrase "one hundred years old" (一百歲; pinyin: yībǎisuì) might be used to wish the sneezer a long life.

Nursery rhymes associated with sneezing

Sneezing has also inspired superstition-laden nursery rhymes:

Sneeze on Monday for health,

Sneeze on Tuesday for wealth,

Sneeze on Wednesday for a letter,

Sneeze on Thursday for something better,

Sneeze on Friday for sorrow,

Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,

Sneeze on Sunday, safety seek.

One for sorrow

Two for joy

Three for a girl

Four for a boy.

Five for silver

Six for gold

Seven for a secret, never to be told.

This second nursery rhyme has also been used of European Magpies.

One for a wish

Two for a kiss

Three for a letter

Four for something better.

In Spanish-speaking countries, when children sneeze the following is said:

One sneeze: Salud (To your health)

Two sneezes: Salud y dinero (To your health and wealth)

Three sneezes: Salud, dinero y amor (To your health, wealth and love)

Four sneezes: Salud, dinero, amor, y alergías (To your health, wealth, love, and allergies)

In French-speaking countries, sneezing is accompanied by the following phrases:

One sneeze: À vos souhaits (To your wishes)

Two sneezes: À vos rêves (To your dreams)

Three sneezes: À vos amours (To your loved ones)

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for sneezing are common. Among them are the following:

• Apply upward pressure to the bottom of your nose.
• Tickle or press against the top of your mouth with your tongue.
• Distract your mind by thinking of a fruit or vegetable.
• Looking up with your eyes but not your head.
• Hold open your eyelid. As previously mentioned, it is almost impossible to sneeze with your eyelids open.
• Holding your breath for long enough when one feels a sneeze coming will usually prevent a sneeze. Sneezing requires air to expel, and simply eliminating the air until the nervous response goes away means no sneeze. This is immensely preferable to blocking the nose, which can result in damage to the delicate structures of the inner ears, or redirecting the sneeze through your mouth, which can result in the oral ejection of phlegm and saliva.

Auditory Volume

Its is widely accepted by the scientific community that the auditory volume of sneezing is directly proportional to an increased level of health, in most mammals. In particular, humans on average experience a 0.4% increase in white-blood cell count per decibel increase in sneeze auditory volume, per 100 sneezes.