Ever wondered why we sneeze? Sneezing, also known as sternutation, is your body’s way of removing irritants from your nose or throat. It acts like a natural reset button for your nose, and it involves some pretty interesting body mechanics!Sneezes start in your nervous system, which is like the body’s electrical wiring. When something irritating, like dust, pollen, smoke, or even a strong smell, enters your nose, it triggers a signal in the nerve cells of your nose. These nerves send a message to your brain, which then tells your body, “Hey, we need to get rid of this!”Your body then prepares for a sneeze by taking in a deep breath. After that, your eyes shut (this happens automatically, and it’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open), your tongue pushes against the roof of your mouth, and the muscles in your chest tighten. This builds up pressure. When you finally sneeze, air, along with droplets from your mouth and nose, is forced out explosively. This air can rocket out of your nose at speeds up to 100 miles per hour!But sneezes aren’t just about clearing your nose. They’re a part of your immune system, which helps keep you healthy. Sneezing helps to keep your body safe by blasting out germs and other potentially harmful irritants.Despite its usefulness, sneezing can spread germs, especially if you don’t catch them in a tissue or your elbow. That’s why it’s super important to cover up and clean your hands afterwards, so you don’t share your germs with others.Interestingly, some people sneeze when they look at a bright light, a reaction called a photic sneeze reflex. It’s a quirky trait that about one-third of people have, and scientists think it’s a genetic, harmless hiccup in the body’s response to sudden exposure to light.So, the next time you feel a sneeze coming on, remember—it’s just your body being smart, doing its best to keep you healthy and ready for anything!
