Sneezing is the body’s way of getting rid of irritants in the nasal passages, such as colds, allergies, or opioid withdrawal. Photic sneezing is an inherited reflex that affects 20-35% of humans and is caused by looking at bright light. It is rarely dangerous, but caution should be taken when performing activities that require constant alertness.
Sneezing or sneezing, that rapid rush of air out of the nose and mouth, has many causes, but is usually the body’s attempt to get rid of material in the nasal passages. Often people know what the source is: they may have a runny nose due to colds or flu, for example, which cause irritation of the mucous membranes in the sinus passages. The body responds by attempting to clear these steps, causing an individual to sneeze.
Other times, pollen, dust, or mold allergies cause sneezing. The nose, which acts as a filtering device, works to remove these allergens from the body by expelling them. Since allergies that enter the nose are often made up of tiny particles, it may take multiple attempts to remove the irritants. Also, provided the person remains in an environment with the offending allergens, they are likely to continue to sneeze periodically.
Sometimes, cures for sneezing caused by allergies lead to bigger ones. The use of corticosteroid nasal sprays, for example, can lead to a sneezing attack. Again, the nose reacts to the introduction of a foreign agent, even a beneficial one, and tries to get rid of it. The nasal passages will also notice the presence of irritating foreign agents entering the nose, such as pepper and some other spices. Some people also sneeze after swimming for a while.
An unusual cause is opioid drug withdrawal. Opiates make up many different legal pain relievers, as well as several illegal drugs, such as heroin. Anyone who has taken opioids for a long time may experience withdrawal symptoms once they stop taking them. These can include a runny nose and sneezing which can be caused by nasal congestion. As a result, some people seem to suffer from chronic runny noses, and the presence of extra mucus in the sinuses is more likely to trigger the reaction.
There is one type of sneezing that has little to do with nasal irritants: photic sneezing is an inherited reflex that affects approximately 20-35% of humans. What happens is that looking at bright light stimulates the optic nerve to send the wrong signal to the trigeminal nerve, which is thought to be the nerve responsible for sending a signal to create a sneeze. Some scientists consider photic sneezing to be a birth defect, but given the large number of people who experience this reaction when looking at light, it may simply be a natural variant.
Scientists know that the problem is autosomal dominant in nature. In other words, if a child’s parents sneeze when suddenly exposed to sunlight, the child is likely to do the same, and has a good chance of passing this trait on to their children. Fortunately, a sneeze is rarely dangerous unless a person is performing an activity that requires constant alertness. Someone who finds themselves having several in succession while driving, for example, may want to pull over to the side of the road until they are finished.
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