What is the average number of sneezes

Some believe sneezing might not happen during rapid eye movement REM sleep - in which dreams occur. That's because the body's muscles relax and reflex reactions shut down.

But people move in and out of REM sleep when they slumber, and it could still be possible to sneeze then. Unsurprisingly, there hasn't been much research to give a definitive answer. A quick Google will tell you that although it is true that when we sneeze our eyes do shut automatically, the pressure that would build up behind the eyeballs from sneezing would not be enough to dislodge the eyes. The result? No eye popping. Experiments by Lydia Bourouiba at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology show sneezes create clouds of spit and gas that carry infectious droplets a considerable distance.

According to Guinness World Records, the longest sneezing fit is days. Briton Donna Griffiths started sneezing on 13 January and surpassed the previous duration record on 26 July She sneezed an estimated million times in the first days and achieved her first sneeze-free day on 16 September For her experiments, Lydia Bourouiba gently "tickled" the subjects' nose with a rod-shaped device for a few seconds. A painful method some have tried is pulling out nose hair - or sniffing pepper.

Many people try holding their breath for a few seconds until the urge hopefully passes. For about 18 to 20 percent of the population, staring at bright lights can cause uncontrollable sneezing.

Some researchers believe that rapid pupil constriction may trigger the nerves related to sneezing, but no one knows for sure. So if you seem to be sneezing over and over while enjoying the great outdoors, maybe avert your gaze from the sun for a little while.

Medical waste, PPE, and online shopping are driving a surge in ocean pollution. It doesn't just work your leg muscles—racing is rough on your intestines, too. This is in addition, of course, to irritants listed above, such as pet dander, sunlight, and spices. Sneezes are mechanical reflexes that occur within the body. They are caused by irritants that trigger this response. In some cases, they are the result of upper respiratory infections or allergic reactions in which the sneeze is responsible for removing excessive nasal mucus.

Once the receptors in the nasal lining have been stimulated the impulse travels via the fifth cranial nerve where the sneeze reflex is triggered. When you sneeze, the air travels fast, up to 40 miles per hour on average, with some expelling from your body at rates of up to miles per hour. The most amazing part of this, though, is that the entire process occurs within seconds making the force of the sneeze even more dramatic.

One thing you may not know is that most people do close their eyes while sneezing. Because so many people sneeze as a result of colds, viruses, etc. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends that you sneeze into a tissue when possible and dispose of the tissue in a wastebasket.

If a tissue is unavailable, they suggest sneezing into your upper sleeve rather than your hands and washing your hands with soap and water as quickly as possible after sneezing. There are many myths about sneezing that should be dispelled. For instance, your heart does not stop when you sneeze. Your eyes will not pop out of your head when you sneeze with your eyes open though most people do reflexively close their eyes when sneezing.

The more you know about sneezes, the better prepared you are to address potential problems and seek practical solutions if they are becoming an interruption to your normal routine or a healthcare concern.

Hopefully, this guide has helped to shed some light on what might be causing you to sneeze. We can determine the specific allergens that are causing you to sneeze and prescribe the allergy treatment to get you through your day as sneeze-free as prudent and possible.

By Patricia Leonard MD. Make a Payment. What is a Sneeze? WebMD points out some of the reasons, a few of the more surprising reasons people sneeze are listed below: Having an orgasm. Working out.